06/23/2008
CONTACT: Andy Markowski, 203-626-5815 or Jason Brewer, 202-406-4435
HARTFORD, Conn. -- The following is a statement by Andy Markowski, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business/Connecticut, reacting to this afternoon's override of Gov. Rell's veto of legislation to raise the minimum wage.
"State lawmakers picked the worse possible time to put the screws to hardworking small employers in Connecticut. Despite mounting and indisputable evidence that small business owners are struggling all across the state with rising food, energy and healthcare costs, lawmakers have now made things worse by mandating higher wages. Today's vote speaks volumes about the lack of respect lawmakers have for small employers that are struggling to stay afloat.
"Raising the minimum wage has a direct impact on the cost of doing business, especially for small employers. Not only does the wage go up, but so do workers' compensation and unemployment insurance costs paid by the employer. Too many lawmakers have not done their homework, because had they any sense of the economic uncertainty on Main Street, they would know that now was not the time to heap additional burdens on Connecticut's smallest employers.
"We are grateful Governor Rell took the time to thoughtfully evaluate the impact a wage increase would have on our state's small businesses in vetoing this legislation, and we are equally frustrated at lawmakers who put political expediency ahead of hardworking small business owners of Connecticut.
"Rather than adding to the woes facing small businesses, lawmakers should spend some time this summer talking to small employers about the problems they face doing business in Connecticut. Perhaps then they would spend less time frustrating small employers and start working on solutions that address the rising cost of doing business in our state."
