PAID LEAVE AND MINIMUM WAGE PROPOSALS LEAVE SMALL BUSINESS ON THE BRINK
The following statement may be attributed to NFIB New York
state director, Mike Durant regarding impending proposals to force small
businesses to provide paid leave as well as a drastic increase in the state’s
minimum wage:
The next few days are critical to the state’s budget
process, and more importantly, for the present and future of New York’s small
businesses. As lawmakers continue to consider two critical proposals by
Governor Cuomo, it is imperative they recognize the vast importance small
employers have on our economy.
Main Street businesses are already struggling in New
York, a situation which will become dire if lawmakers pass the highest minimum
wage and most expansive paid leave mandate in the nation. We appreciate
the ongoing efforts by many lawmakers to lessen the impact of these costly
proposals and are keenly aware of the political pressure to act on them. However it is imperative that
lawmakers understand that mitigation will not suffice and voting in support of
either measure will be tough to justify to small employers.
It is necessary that any resolution to these issues are
cognizant of the serious economic differences between Wall Street and Main
Street and are paired with significant tax reductions and regulatory
reforms. Again, outside of rejecting these proposals outright, mitigating
will not be a sufficient message to struggling small businesses across New
York.
