Albany (December 10, 2013) — The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) today called on US senators Chuck Shcumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to reject a minimum wage bill coming up for a vote this week that it says is far worse for New York small businesses than a milder state version pushed last year Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“It’s the difference between the flu and the plague,” said NFIB State Director Mike Durant. “Neither of them is good, but the plague is deadlier.”
Last year the Legislature adopted an increase in the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $8.75 per hour, a 20 percent increase spread out over two years. It was a tough pill to swallow for struggling small businesses that NFIB opposed. But compared to the plan now being pushed by President Barack Obama, which would raise the rate 37 percent in two years and then every year thereafter based on inflation, the Cuomo version looks like a break.
“The Governor pushed to raise the minimum wage but he could have pushed for something much worse,” said Durant. “The Obama plan would put labor costs on auto pilot and virtually destroy New York’s small businesses, especially the tourist- and recreation-based businesses Upstate.”
Durant said that Schumer and Gillibrand should remember who they work for when the bill comes up in the US Senate this week.
“I know they want to be loyal to the President but they should follow the Governor’s lead and do what’s best for New York,” he said. “The Obama plan is a time bomb and we’re counting on our senators to diffuse it.”
Durant pointed out that New York small businesses are still scrambling to adjust to the controversial Affordable Care Act, which is causing massive disruptions in the labor and insurance markets.
“We’ve had enough heavy-handed mandates from Washington,” said Durant. “This is another intrusion by Washington and it will be very damaging to small businesses in New York that are already struggling.”
For more information about NFIB please visit www.nfib.com.
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