Kucinich On Estate Tax/Minimum Wage Bill: Death Tax Poison Pill Will Kill Minimum Wage Increase For Working Families
Washington,
Jul 28, 2006 -
Statement of Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) on the Majority’s attempt to defeat an increase in the minimum wage by attaching it to legislation on the Estate Tax:
“I will quote from the Good Book, not the Internal Revenue Code, but the Bible, Mr. Speaker. Isaiah 10th Chapter, First and Second verse: ‘Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people. . . .’
“Tonight we debate an unjust law which steals from the poor to give to the rich. It is unjust to attach a minimum wage increase to tax cuts for the rich. It would cost about $26 billion a year to give a $2.10 increase in the minimum wage to the least wealthy workers. The estate tax cut could give about $80 billion per year for ten years to three families out of every 1000.
“Some call it a death tax, but this poison pill will be the death of the minimum wage increase for millions of working Americans.
“It is unjust that here, in the richest country on earth, there is no guarantee that a full time job will lift a family out of a situation of dire poverty. That’s because full-time year-round minimum wage earnings at $5.15 an hour leave a family of three $5,000 below the poverty line.
“Since 1997, the last time Congress passed a minimum wage increase, the cost of living has increased for all Americans. The cost of putting food on the table, the cost of keeping a roof over your head, the cost of gas – all going up, up, up. The only thing that hasn’t increased is the minimum wage. And Congress’ response: Give a tax cut to the wealthiest Americans. This is a perfect example of this Congress’ single-minded economic policy: Surpluses: Tax cuts to the wealthy. Deficits: Tax cuts to the wealthy. War: Tax cuts to the wealthy. High Gas Prices: Tax cuts to the wealthy. A much needed increase in the minimum wage to the humblest of workers: Tax cuts to the wealthy.
‘Woe to those who make unjust laws’ said Isaiah.”
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