[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 1, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H4309-H4310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    ASSAULT ON WORKING FAMILIES AND GAS TAX CUT ARE SEPARATE ISSUES

  (Mr. HILLIARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, every American has the right to a livable 
wage. The Republicans have offered what they say is an alternative to 
increasing the minimum wage. They want to talk about cutting the gas 
tax and they claim that this will benefit the working poor.
  This is a sham. The 4-cent gas tax is not designated to help working 
folks; it is calculated to bail out the oil and gas industry. The 
industry increased gas prices. If the prices are too high, the industry 
should reduce them.
  Rising prices at the gas pump should not be offset with a tax cut 
that will cost the U.S. Treasury more than $4 billion this year. 
Republicans claim that they want to balance the budget, but then they 
go out and cut programs that the working poor depend on. The

[[Page H4310]]

Republicans' assault on the working families should not be confused 
with a gas tax cut. They are separate issues.
  We should keep the minimum wage debate clean and we should vote to 
increase the minimum wage. If a tax cut is necessary, then we should do 
that also, but they are separate issues.

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