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News from the office of Representative Jan Schakowsky
MARCH 9, 2000 
 
STATEMENT OF U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JAN SCHAKOWSKY 
ON REPUBLICANS’ LATEST GIVEAWAY TO THE RICH
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today said that Republicans are putting at risk the economic welfare of 10 million workers by linking a miserly minimum wage increase to a tax bill that is nothing more than a $120 billion giveaway to the wealthiest 1% percent of taxpayers. 

Below is Schakowsky’s statement.

“American families who work hard and play by the rules deserve a break.  But Republicans 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.  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 the Republican $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 Republican leaders 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 $2600 below the poverty line.  The Republicans would give her 33 cents a year over 3 years.  Their tax plan gives millionaires $6,128 a year.  Is this what Republicans mean 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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