i thank the president for nominating dan crabtree and i ask my colleagues to join me in confirming him as a judge for the united states district court for the district of kansas. i yield the floor. mr. thune: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator south dakota. mr. thune: mr. president, i come to the floor to discuss the proposed minimum wage hike and the jobs it will cost americans. with more than 10 million americans unemployed, the last thing that this body should be doing is considering legislation that would jeopardize jobs. yet this week we're back in session with another one of the democrats' election-year gimmicks, a 40% minimum wage hike that the congressional budget office -- the congressional budget office estimates would result in the loss of up to one million jobs in this country. minimum wage hikes are a favorite democrat proposal when economic times are hike and election-year prospects are dim. hiking wages sounds good. democrats figure it is a sure-fire way to appeal to americans. the friewj is, when the consequences of the minimum wage hike are explained to