Des Moines (April 30, 2014)
— The National
Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) today put US senators on notice
that their votes today on whether to raise the federal minimum wage by 37
percent will count heavily among small business owners in Iowa.
“Iowa has made progress in recent years
improving the state’s competitive position,” said NFIB State Director Kristin Failor.
“The federal proposal would raise costs by 37 percent, making it harder
for small business owners in Iowa hire
and retain workers without making painful cuts elsewhere that will affect
prices and service.”
NFIB yeserday
sent a letter to the United States Senate notifying members that S-2223 will
count as a Key Vote in the NFIB Voting Record for the 113th Congress. The bill, entitled the Minimum
Wage Fairness Act, would increase the minimum wage to $10.10, increase
tipped wage, and permanently index it to inflation.
The
organization opposes the measure as a danger to small businesses that are least
able to absorb a big increase in the cost labor.
“Yet
again, lawmakers are targeting the nation’s economic engine – small business
owners – with an anti-employer agenda,” said NFIB Manager of Legislative Affairs Ashley Fingarson. “With
increases to health care costs, higher taxes, more costly regulations, and now
a dramatic minimum wage increase, small business owners simply can’t afford
another excessive government mandate. It
could not be clearer from our studies and the recent Congressional Budget Office
report – raising the minimum wage will kill
jobs and stifle economic output.”
NFIB uses Key Votes each Congress to
rate members of Congress and the US Senate. The information is then compiled
and sent to each Congressional office at the end of the congressional session. Lawmakers who vote with small business at
least 70 percent of the time are eligible for NFIB’s Guardian of Small Business
Award and potentially its endorsement for reelection. The NFIB Voting Record also highlights
lawmakers who vote against small business on most key issues.
“A lot of elected officials talk
about supporting small businesses but their voting records sometimes tell a
different story,” said Failor. “This is a very important issue for small
businesses in Iowa and we want our
senators to know that before they vote on Wednesday.”
