| January 10, 2007 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth), Vice Chair of the Republican Conference, today criticized Democrats for voting against Republican efforts to protect workers and business owners alike when increasing the minimum wage.
"I support an increase to the minimum wage but only with protections for small businesses that will help ensure that workers do not lose their jobs.
"Businesses do not want to be placed in the position of having to fire good workers because the government suddenly mandates they pay their workers an increased wage and they can't afford it. And unfortunately, that's exactly what will happen if we raise the minimum wage without protections for small businesses. As a small business owner for over 20 years, I can tell you that without putting these checks and balances in place, you are going to end up hurting the worker you're trying to help.
"Any increase to the minimum wage needs to be balanced with tax and regulatory relief to protect the jobs of American workers who rely on the minimum wage. An increase to the minimum wage will result in much needed raises for about nine percent of the total workforce. But without the small business protections in place supported by Republicans, most economists agree that the increase to the minimum wage will increase unemployment.
"Senate Democrats have agreed to include these protections in their minimum wage bill to move it forward. I urge my Democrat Colleagues in the House, many of whom have voted before for worker protections, to consider including language into the final bill sent to the President that will help our workers instead of hurt them."