OLYMPIA, Wash., March 2, 2015—The regular release of annual poll results of Washington state small-business owners, today, comes just as lawmakers are considering voting on two of the issues this week.
“This year’s timing of the release of our ballot results coincides nicely with the debate and votes on two issues we surveyed our members on: low-carbon fuel standards and the minimum wage,” said Patrick Connor, Washington state director for the National Federation of Independent Business. “I’m hoping legislators take note of the views emanating from the Main Streets of their districts, before making their choices.”
Every year the National Federation of Independent Business, America’s largest and leading small-business association, polls its members on state and national issues vital to their ability to own, operate and grow their enterprises. Results from the poll center NFIB’s lobbying positions in Washington, D.C. and in Olympia. NFIB has 350,000 dues-paying members nationwide, including more than 8,000 in Washington state. Results from the NFIB-member ballots are released after a statistically valid sample is reached. The 2015 ballot asked four questions:
Should Washington implement a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS)?
Yes 10 percent
No 87 percent
Und. 3 percent
Should Washington state implement a carbon tax?
Yes 6 percent
No 90 percent
Und. 4 percent
Should surplus funds be considered when setting health insurance rates?
Yes 54 percent
No 33 percent
Und. 13 percent
Should the state minimum wage be increased in exchange for prohibiting local governments from adopting their own employment ordinances?
Yes 11 percent
No 78 percent
Und. 11 percent
More information on Gov. Jay Inslee’s climate initiative can be read here.
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For more than 70 years, the National Federation of Independent Business has been the Voice of Small Business, taking the message from Main Street to the halls of Congress and all 50 state legislatures. NFIB annually surveys its members on state and federal issues vital to their survival as America’s economic engine and biggest creator of jobs. NFIB’s educational mission is to remind policymakers that small businesses are not smaller versions of bigger businesses; they have very different challenges and priorities.
NFIB/Washington
711 Capitol Way South, Suite 505
Olympia, WA 98501
Twitter: @NFIB_WA
