05/03/2007
CONTACT: Michael J. Donohue at (202) 314-2044
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, National Federation of Independent Business Executive Vice President Dan Danner, National Restaurant Association Senior Vice President John Gay and National Retail Federation Senior Vice President Steve Pfister called on Congress to remove the federal minimum-wage hike and partnering tax package from the contentious Iraq spending bill. The groups joined to make the following statement:
“Today, on behalf of all of our members and their employees, we urge the Congress to consider the federal minimum-wage increase and partnering tax package separately from the Iraq supplemental legislation just vetoed by President Bush. We ask that Congress write a stand-alone wage/tax bill that includes a fuller and more effective tax package, which would provide real relief to those most affected by a mandated wage hike, smaller employers.
“The minimum wage/tax package is entirely out of place in debate about the war in Iraq and should be separated. Congressional leaders shouldn’t muddy the waters and confuse the issues surrounding the minimum wage by adding it to a controversial war bill.
“Congress has spoken repeatedly this year that small businesses deserve relief from a wage hike. There is no reason that this issue should be tied to a massive war spending bill or that the meaningful relief passed by an overwhelming and bipartisan majority in the Senate should have been diluted and diverted away from the small businesses that actually need it. Members of Congress still have time to correct these mistakes. We urge them to do so.”
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NFIB is the nation’s leading small-business advocacy association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small- and independent-business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system.
NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses.
