Washington, DC – Rep. Tom Price (GA-06-R) issued the following statement after it was revealed Democrats plan to insert a minimum wage increase into the upcoming emergency supplemental spending bill for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Promise:

“Delaying action on a pay raise for hard-working Americans that are living from paycheck to paycheck is grossly unfair. We are committed to a clean bill to increase the minimum wage.” - Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CongressDaily, 1/24/07)

“The House wants to see a clean bill passed and signed by the president.” – House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer (CongressDaily, 1/30/07)

The Reality:

“House leaders have added legislation raising the federal minimum wage to an emergency spending bill for the Iraq war. They hope to break a logjam with the Senate over the wage bill, a top Democratic priority that was once seen on Capitol Hill as a relatively easy compromise” (Washington Post, 3/9/07).

For the purposes of political expediency, House Democrats have backed off their pledge for a “clean” minimum wage bill. To date, their position has evolved from a “clean” minimum wage increase to a minimum wage increase with tax increases to now just inserting it into a major spending bill. If Democrats figure that they can throw in unrelated money for agriculture relief, wildfire suppression and energy assistance in an emergency bill, then why not also add in a minimum wage increase.

“War is too serious for political expediency and gamesmanship,” said Price. “In a blatant disregard for the purpose of this legislation, Democrats are loading the bill up with whatever is needed to sell it to the left wing of their party. American people are sick and tired of this kind of political opportunism, and it is disappointing that the majority thinks this is a good time to satisfy their political agenda.

“Funding for troops in harm’s way must not be used as camouflage for liberal priorities. In this instance, the only priority is ensuring that the brave men and women of our Armed Services have every bit of support they need. A minimum wage addition to this supplemental is not only inappropriate, it is insulting.”

The Solution:

Positive, Principled, Solution-Oriented Leadership

Democrat Broken Promise Meter: 21

Democrats and a Clean Minimum Wage (03/9/07)

Democrats and PAYGO Promises (03/7/07)

Democrats and High Ethical Standards (03/1/07)

Democrats and Card Check vs. State Law (02/28/07)

Democrats and Troop Funding (02/15/07)

Democrats and Iraq(02/13/07)

Democrats and Card Check Flip-Flop (02/12/07)

Democrats and Special Interests (02/08/07)

Democrats and Air Tavel(02/07/07)

Democrats and Earmarks(02/02/07)

Democrats and Troop Funding (01/29/07)

Democrats and Bipartisanship(01/24/07)

Democrats and Energy Policy(01/18/07)

Democrats and Student Loans(01/16/07)

Democrats and PAYGO (1/11/07)

Democrats and National Security (1/9/07)

Democrats and Five-Day-Work-Week (1/7/07)

Democrats and 24 Hours to Review Legislation (1/3/07)

Democrats and Committee Assignments (12/27/06)

Democrats and 9/11 Recommendations (12/18/06)

Democrats and the Legislative Process (12/15/06)

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