Gov. Jay Inslee’s speech is a disappointment for the state's job creators.
Bad News for Small Business in State Address
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee titled his annual State of the State address, “A State of Confidence”. But some critics argue it’s way too early to feel secure about Washington’s economic future.
Education, mental health and transportation were among the key areas the governor highlighted in his Jan. 12 speech. But a sticking point that was most notably missing for small business owners: talk about items that would help job creators.
Minimum Wage and Sick Leave
While talking about the state’s unemployment rate, Inslee vowed to push for an increase in the minimum wage and hinted support for paid sick leave.
“I stand on this rock-solid belief: If you work 40 hours a week, you deserve a wage that puts a roof over your head and food on the table. Period. And you shouldn’t have to give up a day’s pay if you or your kids get sick,” he said.
Republicans, who control the Senate, responded swiftly to the idea of raising the minimum wage.
“Minimum wage was never supposed to be a living wage,” House Republican Caucus Leader Shelly Short told The Stranger.
The governor already supports a ballot measure that seeks to incrementally increase the state’s minimum wage to $13.50 an hour—a move well above the already-high minimum wage of $9.47 an hour.
‘Disappointing to Job Creators’
NFIB/Washington State Director Patrick Connor was disappointed with the governor’s speech, saying it paid no attention to the struggles or interests of the more than 400,000 entrepreneurs in Washington.
“If this speech is indicative of the governor’s priorities for the last year of his first term in office, it is clear that small business is at the very bottom of a very long list,” Connor said.
Small business received barely a passing mention while talk of spending more of taxpayers’ money toward everything from transportation to wildfire prevention dominated Inslee’s address, Connor said.
