On Eve of 110th Congress, McKeon Raises Key Questions About Democrat “First 100 Hours” Agenda for Small Businesses, Students, and Taxpayers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the start of the 110th Congress less than 24 hours away and House Democrat leaders still refusing to make public the content of several proposals scheduled for consideration, Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) today expressed disappointment not only about the process surrounding the House Democrat leadership’s “first 100 hours” agenda – but also about the agenda’s potential consequences for small businesses, students, and taxpayers.

Though media reports indicate that Democrat leaders do not plan to follow regular order when the House considers measures to raise the federal minimum wage without protections for small businesses and reduce student loan interest rates at a cost of billions, McKeon expressed hope that some key fiscal and policy concerns may yet be acknowledged and addressed by Democrat leaders prior to House votes on the proposals.  Yesterday, McKeon wrote to the Education & the Workforce Committee’s incoming Chairman, Rep. George Miller (D-CA), urging him to continue the panel’s practice of following regular order by convening official hearings on the measures slated for House consideration later this month.

“Key questions and concerns about these legislative proposals are best addressed through a robust Committee process, not behind closed doors by a handful of senior Democrat leaders,” said McKeon. 

“The Education & the Workforce Committee has a strong track record of holding hearings or markups prior to advancing major legislation to the House floor; I am hopeful we can continue that practice into the 110th Congress and beyond,” McKeon continued, noting that each item in the 104th Congress’ Republican Contract with America was voted on by the House within the session’s first 100 days and after consideration by appropriate committees of jurisdiction.

McKeon highlighted specific questions and concerns about two “first 100 hours” agenda items – proposals to raise the federal minimum wage without protections for small businesses and cut student loan interest rates at a cost of billions – that fall into the jurisdiction of the Education & the Workforce Committee.

Minimum Wage Hike with No Protections for Small Businesses and their Workers

Among the first items planned for a House vote is a measure to raise the federal minimum wage.  Though few details of the proposal have been made available by the House Democrat leadership, McKeon noted that several key questions about the planned legislation must be addressed.

“Will this legislation include provisions that protect and promote small businesses and their workers?” asked McKeon, who last summer supported a bill to increase the minimum wage in a responsible package that provided significant protections for small businesses and would not inadvertently hurt the very families a minimum wage hike is supposed to help.  “And if not, why not?  Small businesses and their workers are the backbone of our economy, and it’s important for Congress to ensure a minimum wage mandate does not have a harmful effect on small employers’ ability to create jobs and provide benefits for working families.”

McKeon noted that he hoped for an opportunity to consider a Republican minimum wage alternative in Committee and once the Democrat leadership’s bill reaches the House floor.

Reducing Student Loan Rates at a Cost of Billions

McKeon also noted that many questions – but few details – have arisen with regard to planned Democrat legislation to cut certain student loan rates at a cost of billions. 

“Exactly how much is this legislation going to cost, and how do Democrat leaders intend to pay for it?” McKeon questioned.  “Though few details have been made available, we know the cost will be steep, raising even more questions about the Democrat leadership’s priorities.  For example, how will this multi-billion dollar plan expand college access?  It won’t.  How many more students will be able to go to college because of a cut to certain student loan rates?  Zero.  How does this proposal address the bottom line issue of college affordability?  It doesn’t.”

“In fact,” McKeon concluded, “some are correct to wonder whether their plan simply amounts to phantom reform that would further escalate the college cost crisis.”

Similar to the forthcoming House consideration of the Democrat leadership’s minimum wage bill, McKeon noted that he hoped for an opportunity to consider Republican alternatives that can improve the student loan rate bill in Committee or once it reaches the House floor.

McKeon is poised to serve as the Education & the Workforce Committee’s Ranking Republican Member once the 110th Congress is underway.