SMALL BUSINESS STATEMENT ON RAIMONDO STATE OF THE STATE
PROVIDENCE (January 17, 2017): In response to tonight’s State of the State by Governor Raimondo, the following statement may be attributed to the Rhode Island state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, Bill Vernon:
The Governor declaring that Rhode Island is getting stronger every day when we have yet to reach pre-recession employment levels is confounding to the small business community. Rhode Island is one of the most overtaxed and over regulated states in the country and we repeatedly rank as one of the worst business climates in which to operate. Tonight, Governor Raimondo laid out an agenda that was nothing short of disappointing to the job creators of Rhode Island.
Increasing the cost to employ people is quite simply, a deterrent to creating jobs. The minimum wage rate was never intended to feed entire families or sustain someone over a lifetime. It was created as an entry level, starting point, for young and inexperienced workers. If small businesses can afford to provide paid time off, chances are they already do. Mandating wage hikes and paid leave will not only stifle much-needed job creation, it will jeopardize those jobs that already exist.
