[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 142 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        WAR ON THE MIDDLE CLASS

  (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, Republican leaders have made the 
laughable accusation that the President is engaging in class warfare. 
What President Obama is actually doing is ending class warfare, the 
relentless war on the middle class. Since 1983, over 80 percent of the 
growth in income has gone to the richest 5 percent of Americans, while 
the bottom 60 percent has lost 7.5 percent in income, of real income. 
That's the majority of Americans that are doing worse.
  When I was growing up, a family could live a middle class life on one 
good job, often a good union job, public or private sector, with health 
benefits and a pension. That was the normal. Seems like the new normal 
in America, the one that I see the Republicans promoting is the rich 
get richer, the middle class is disappearing, and the poor get even 
poorer.
  We need to enact bold laws like the President's American Jobs Act and 
common sense and fair budget proposals, both of which would help 
restore the middle class, protect the poor, and keep America strong.

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