    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [May 22, 1996]
    [Page 796]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Minimum Wage
    May 22, 1996

        An increase in the minimum wage would honor our values: work,
    family, responsibility, and opportunity. You cannot raise a family on
    $4.25 an hour. Over the years, both parties have worked together to
    ensure that the minimum wage keeps up with the cost of living. To
    continue that commitment to working families, I have challenged Congress
    to raise the minimum wage by 90 cents. It is clear that a bipartisan
    majority of the House of Representatives stands ready to pass this
    increase.
        But the House leadership is today proposing a giant fraud on the
    American people. Their legislation will eliminate the minimum wage for
    all workers hired by fully two-thirds of American businesses. I hope
    Senator Dole will join me in opposing this extreme measure. We must not
    tolerate sweatshops and a repeal of wage protections for millions of
    Americans as a condition of assuring a living wage for some workers.
        Let me be clear: Eliminating the minimum wage is no way to raise it.
    If Congress sends me a bill to eliminate the minimum wage and wage
    protection for millions of workers, I will veto it. Speaker Gingrich and
    Majority Leader Dole should allow an honest up-or-down vote on the
    minimum wage.