Cooper: Maryland Not Poster Child for Successful Small Business Atmosphere
The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony regarding mandating paid leave for
employees in Annapolis on Tuesday, February 3. In a state where doing business has become increasingly
difficult for entrepreneurs after an increase in minimum wage and the costs
associated with the Affordable Care Act, the last thing Maryland small business
owners want to see is greater regulatory constraints placed on them by their
legislators.
“The voters of Maryland sent a strong message when they
elected Larry Hogan to be our next Governor,” said Maryland NFIB State Director
Jessica Cooper. “Clearly, some of our Maryland’s legislators are tone deaf to
the will of the voters because the message sent in November was that they crave
leadership that will encourage small businesses by lessening the burdensome
taxes in our state, not stifle them under impossible regulations.”
Tuesday’s hearing focused on a Maryland Senate bill
requiring employers to provide employees with mandated paid leave and to allow
an employee to use the paid leave through a vague procedural process that could
open the floodgates for lawsuits. As confusion amongst small business owners
increases, members of NFIB will be testifying about the harsh consequences that
government mandates have on their bottom lines in future hearings.
“Maryland is full of entrepreneurs who don’t get paid until
their workers get paid. If lawns aren’t
being cut or salons aren’t operating, they’re not making money. If our businesses are not making money, their
workers are not being paid.” Continued Cooper, “Ultimately small employers will
make cutselsewhere to compensate for the increased costs and that will affect
the very same workers whom the legislature claims to want to help.”
Please CLICK HERE to contact your legislators about this legislation, SB 40.
