[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17834]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      DON'T HURT LOW-WAGE EARNERS

  (Mr. GOHMERT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GOHMERT. I know we have disagreements on some of these issues and 
I know what the intent is of the Democratic-proposed health care bill. 
And I know the intent is not to hurt the lower-wage earner. But this 
bill that's being proposed is going to hammer employers with an 8 
percent penalty if they don't provide health care.
  Well, so they're going to turn around and provide health care because 
the people I know are saying, We're just hanging on. We've got these 
good workers. We don't want to lose them. So if I'm going to be 
penalized 8 percent, I'll have to provide health care; but I'm going to 
have to reduce their wages by the amount the health care costs. It may 
be $5,000 or $6,000.
  And I'm begging my friends on the other side--this is my plea, Mr. 
Speaker--don't take $5,000 or $6,000 of wages from the lowest-wage 
earners right now. Don't force small businesses--and I know there is an 
exemption at the low end--but smaller businesses are still going to 
have to either lay people off, pay an 8 percent penalty, or take wages 
away.
  Don't hurt our lower-wage workers.

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