[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2795]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2000

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, at a time of unprecedented economic 
prosperity and growth, many American families are left behind. Those 
families work hard and play by the rules. They deserve a raise. But 
many of my colleagues on the other side are standing in the way of 
giving 10 million workers a raise in the minimum wage. Instead, they 
insist on sending to the President a bill to raise the minimum wage 
that is tied to a tax giveaway to the rich. As a result, we will see 
the economic gap expand even more. I applaud the President for making 
it clear that he will veto this dreadful bill.
  This is not a minimum wage increase bill; it is a maximum giveaway to 
the wealthy. Under their $120 billion tax cut, the wealthiest 1% of all 
taxpayers, or those earning more than $319,000 a year, would get 73% of 
the total tax cut. This is not a surprise. The leaders of the other 
party have demonstrated many times during the past year that they would 
rather pass bills that benefit special interests and the rich instead 
of hardworking families.
  A minimum wage worker earns $10,700 a year. That means a single 
mother on minimum wage with two kids earns $2,600 below the poverty 
line. Many of my colleagues on the other side would prefer to give her 
33 cents a year over 3 years. Their tax plan gives millionaires $6,128 
a year. Is this what Republicans meant by compassionate conservatism?
  Sixty percent of minimum wage earners are women; nearly 75% are 
adults; \3/5\ are the sole breadwinners in their families; and more 
than 50% work full-time. Those who have to take care of our children at 
daycare centers and our parents at nursing homes deserve better. They 
deserve more than $5.15 an hour. A raise in the minimum wage is about 
economic fairness and social justice. It is a small step in ensuring 
that all Americans share in our nation's economic prosperity and 
growth. I urge my Republican colleagues to stop playing politics with 
the economic welfare of 10 million hard working people.

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