Crist's Minimum Wage Hike at the Expense of Jobs Draws NFIB Fire

Bill Herrle, the executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Florida chapter, came out swinging at former Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday. Herrle pointed to Crist saying in Tuesday nights debate against Gov. Rick Scott that he was for raising the minimum wage even if it led to job loss.

Last night'?s debate proves that Charlie Crist is more out-of-touch with small business owners than ever before, Herrle said. His short-sighted policy positions are small business killers. When he blatantly stated that he doesn?t care about the 50,000 workers who will lose their jobs when minimum wage is raised, it was crystal clear that he does not care about job creation, Florida?s economy, and most importantly, the backbone of both job creation and Florida?s economy - small business owners.

Small business owners are overwhelmingly opposed to raising minimum wage, Herrle continued. In an NFIB/Florida survey of our small business owner-members in Florida: 88.6 percent oppose raising Florida?s minimum wage to 10.10/hour; 61.4 percent would reconsider plans to hire workers if minimum wage were raised to $10.10/hour; 49.2 percent would consider laying off workers if minimum wage were raised to $10.10/hour

The trickle down impact of a 27 percent increase in labor costs would be massive., Herrle added. We heard from many small business owners through the survey who stated they would be forced to increase their own prices, lowering their sales and taking them out of competition with larger competitors. So many said they would have to learn how to function with fewer employees, and many would have to take on more of the work themselves rather than hiring additional employees. Many would be forced to reduce their workforces immediately.

Charlie Crist doesn?t care about Florida'?s small business owners or their employees, Herrle concluded. He didn'?t work for Florida last time he was governor, and it sounds like he plans to make things even worse if he'?s elected in November.