Waiving Requirement of Clause 6(a) of Rule XIII With Respect to Consideration of Certain Resolutions
WAIVING REQUIREMENT OF CLAUSE 6(a) OF RULE XIII WITH RESPECT TO CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS -- (House of Representatives - September 28, 2006)
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Mr. OBEY. ``Whatever you do for the least of your brothers, you do unto me.'' That is what someone who was fairly important in the history of the world told us a long time ago.
But what has the Congress done for the least of our brothers and sisters? It is an indication of the values of those on the majority side of the aisle when they brag about the fact that they held the minimum wage increase hostage to their determination to give away $289 billion to the wealthiest 7,500 people in this country every year. Their deal was ``we ain't going to do nothing for the little people of this economy unless you first provide even more money in the pockets of the very wealthiest people in this country.''
I defy you to show me two farms in any congressional district in the country that would pay the estate tax under the alternative that the Democrats proposed. You may not remember what the numbers were, but I do.
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Mr. OBEY. You can answer on your time. I am answering you on my time. You answer on your time. Now, I would appreciate no further interference from the gentleman.
The gentleman wants to brag about the prescription drug proposal in the homeland security bill. The majority party nailed into that prescription drug bill last year a prohibition against the Federal Government negotiating for lower prices. So where did the seniors have to go? Wal-Mart finally announced they are going to provide lower drug prices.
I suggested in the conference in the Homeland Security bill that we add language to that bill which says notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into a contract immediately with Wal-Mart to negotiate on behalf of the United States Government with drug manufacturers and suppliers regarding prices to be charged for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D.
It is a sorry day when the majority party stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the pharmaceutical industry against the recipients under Medicare Part D, labeled ``part dumb'' by a lot of the seniors in my district. And it is a sorry day, it is a sorry day, when we have to rely on Wal-Mart in order to do what the public representatives of this Congress ought to do, which is to allow our own government to negotiate for lower prices, rather than relying on this Rube Goldberg monument that makes people go to Canada in order to get some mercy in terms of drug prices.
They want to freeze the minimum wage. They freeze the minimum wage. It doesn't surprise me. The minimum wage is frozen almost as cold as their hearts.
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