Job Killer Quotes

Unfortunately, living wage laws may have an unintended consequence of causing low-wage workers to be replaced by higher skilled, more educated workers. Living wage ordinances hit hardest at new entrants to the labor force.

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Petition Opposing Living Wage Ordinance, Palm Beach County, Florida. Signed by groups including Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce; Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches; Northern Palm Beaches Chamber of Commerce; Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce; Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, Inc.; Palm Beach County Hotel & Lodging Association; Florida Retail Federation; Florida Chamber of Commerce; Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce; Jupiter Tequesta Juno Beach Chamber of Commerce; Sugar Cane Growers Co-Op; Palms West Chamber of Commerce.
319910/02/2002 | Full Details | Law(s): Living Wage

I hope this is a lesson for the next Republican governor or next Republican president before they sign this kind of bill. Once Democrats control everything they are going to start raising taxes and raising benefits to pay for these screwball ideas….A tax on a job eliminates jobs; this is a tax on a job.

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Republican State Senator Ray Haynes. The Tri-Valley Herald.

As if New York's economy wasn't already stressed enough, there's a renewed push in the City Council for a local ‘living wage’ law that could hinder the city's economic renewal while reducing job opportunities for the very people it is supposed to help.

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McMahon, E.J. New York Post.
03/20/2002 | Full Details | Law(s): Living Wage

You're creating an enormously expensive regulation without true evidence of what we will get out of it. You're creating an enormous cost that will only have the effect of pushing jobs offshore.

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Rep. Anne M. Northup (KY-R), The New York Times.

Repealing the ergonomics regulation will save small businesses billions of dollars that means fewer layoffs, less pay-cuts and economic growth.

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Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-TX), The New York Times, “House Joins Senate in Repealing Rules on Workplace Injuries”.

Minimum wage increases that even approach an average livable wage would result in significantly fewer jobs for low-wage workers. A substantial increase in the relative cost of labor will result in a reduction in the amount of labor used…

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Kavet, Thomas, Deborah Brighton, Douglas Hoffer, and Elaine McCrate. Vermont State Legislature.
314911/02/1999 | Full Details | Law(s): Minimum Wage

Every credible economic study on the treaty paints a dark picture for the American people…the Kyoto treaty would cause energy prices to soar and the standard of living in our country to plummet…and result in the elimination of 2.4 million American jobs by the year 2010 and cost the average American family over $2,700 a year.

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Republican Rep. Knollenberg (R-MI), House Subcommittee on National Economic Growth, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs.
327905/20/1999 | Full Details | Law(s): Kyoto Treaty

...this is a very dangerous measure that will seriously affect virtually every employer in the state. The only outcome form this measure’s approval would be the closing of many businesses which, in-turn, would throw thousands of employees out of their jobs.

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Philip M. Vermeulen on behalf of the Engineering Contractors’ Association, the California Fence Contractors Association, the Sacramento Builders’ Exchange, the Marin Builders’ Exchange and the California Chapter of the American Fence Contractors’ Association.

By mandating an even higher minimum, the living wage prices even more people out of work. The people who push these cockamamie ideas never seem to ask why any employer would hire someone at $8.23 if that person's services are only valued in the marketplace at, say, $5.00.

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Lawrence W. Reed. Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
319305/03/1999 | Full Details | Law(s): Living Wage

A poorly crafted ‘living wage’ plan could achieve the opposite of its well-intentioned social goals. It could result in fewer good-paying jobs in the city, and less opportunity at the entry level. It could drive up the cost of city programs, leaving fewer resources to help lower-income families.

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Editorial. San Francisco Chronicle.
11/11/1998 | Full Details | Law(s): Living Wage

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