Labor Committee Ready to Tackle Important Legislation

The start of a new legislative session always brings important and exciting change. This year, we welcomed a new governor, several constitutional officers and dozens of new Representatives and Senators to the Capitol.  Change even affected my work in the legislature as my committee assignments have been adjusted and I now serve as the ranking member – the designated leader of the minority party on a joint committee – of the Labor and Public Employees Committee.

In addition to the Labor Committee, I will also serve on the Finance Committee, and the Insurance and Real Estate Committee.  However, it’s my new role on the Labor Committee and two pieces of proposed legislation that I want to highlight.

Legislative committees are made up of members from each party and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make sure the people of Connecticut are heard, and that the pressing issues facing Connecticut are discussed openly. As proposed legislation is being filed and committees are preparing for public hearings on important issues, there are two bills being discussed that have the potential to impact our state in numerous ways, and for decades to come.  I believe the proposals to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour and to mandate businesses provide paid family and medical leave (FMLA) will garner a substantial amount of attention when they are brought before the Labor Committee.

As a small business owner, I feel I have a perspective that can add depth to discussions on both of these important issues and, like my colleagues, I bring years of personal and professional experience to the committee process. However, none of us are experts on these topics and the people of Connecticut will ultimately guide our decisions.  These proposals are certainly not new, nor are they without controversy.

Advocates have said a $15-per-hour minimum wage is a moral obligation and that companies need to provide a “livable wage” for workers,  while opponents claim it will hurt employment, take entry-level jobs from younger or less educated citizens and make Connecticut a more difficult place to operate a business.  Likewise, advocates for paid Family and Medical Leave have stated that mandating employers provide time off for family or medical needs will boost employee retention and the cost to administer the program will be funded by employee contributions.  Opponents counter that such a program will be a drain on productivity, will cost a company more to temporarily replace those employees and will cost more to administer than could possibly be collected from employees alone.

Surely, these are difficult and emotionally-charged concepts that will be discussed, debated and negotiated in committee meetings, public hearings and in the full House and Senate. Still, I remain optimistic that we can work together to help our state move forward.

I understand how difficult it can be to meet payroll, and I understand the potential negative impact these bills may have on small business far too well.  Unless a very compelling argument is made, or a deal is struck to lessen the burden on Connecticut’s employers, I will have a difficult time supporting these measures. I welcome the discussion and look forward to the debate.