FISCAL REALITY NOWHERE TO BE FOUND AT MINIMUM WAGE RALLY
MANCHESTER
(April 14, 2016): A rally in Manchester today has the National Federation of
Independent Business (NFIB) wondering if those calling for doubling the current
minimum wage in New Hampshire understand the consequences that such a mandate
would have not just on employment in the Granite State but ultimately the
economy as a whole.
“Small business
owners have a difficult enough of a time as it is remaining in business, the
last thing they need to worry about is one more costly mandate interfering with
the day to day running of their businesses,” according to NFIB New Hampshire
state director, Bruce Berke. “Doubling the minimum wage rate to $15 hour would
be disastrous for small employers doing everything they can to keep people
working. To offset the increase in labor costs, they would most likely attempt
to raise the prices of their goods and services, but eventually, they will
simply not be able to afford to keep their employees. Proponents of $15 an hour
just refuse to see the magnitude of the long-term impact of what they are
calling for.”
Today’s rally
was organized by supporters looking for the minimum wage rate to be raised to
$15 an hour across the country. The NFIB has been advocating for years that
increasing mandates of any kind on the small business sector only adds to the
difficulties Mom and Pop shops are having recovering from the great recession.
For many, that includes the desire to hire additional people however they hesitate
based on the current political climate.
“Our members
are incredibly frustrated with the economic uncertainty that they are being
forced to operate within. Just when they think things are stabilizing and they
can begin to plan for the future, yet another drastic change begins to
surface,” continued Berke. “Ultimately a wage increase to $15 an hour is simply
going to eliminate jobs for younger or lower skilled workers. The minimum wage
rate was never intended to feed entire families, and it’s about time someone
called out these supporters for being irrational.”
