Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman from California for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I believe Congress is a marketplace of ideas, and at the end of the day, the best ideas should win. Unfortunately, with the process today, that will not happen.

Allowing a vote on an alternative minimum wage approach is in America's best interest. Republicans offer a balanced approach to increase the minimum wage and provide offset tax relief for small businesses to take on the increased labor cost for the minimum wage hike.

The unbalanced approach of the Democratic bill, H.R. 2, to solely increase the minimum wage is irresponsible. Never mind that the basic economic statement setting an artificial price floor like the minimum wage could actually raise unemployment.

The Federal Reserve study states that if H.R. 2 is enacted, a million restaurant workers could lose their jobs.

I can tell you, as a former small business owner, personally, this is a tough decision. I came to Congress to work to increase opportunities for all Americans, not to harm workers and small businesses. I listened to the debate today, and I listened to the other side, as a freshman. If you look at the Republican bill, it is a compromise. It is a common solution. The minimum wage will be increased, but what else will happen? There will be greater healthcare for the workers. There will

be tax relief where you can expense off when you are buying business equipment. What happens? The workers of America are more competitive in a global economy for the 21st century.

And I ask my colleagues on the other side; last week on this floor I listened closely to what our Speaker said. Speaker Pelosi said, ``Let's work in a spirit of partnership, not partisanship.'' Well, I will tell you, the Republican bill is just that, it is a partnership that lets the power of the idea win at the end of the day.