Another Growth Killer in the NH House

The New Hampshire Women’s lobby wants’ your government to mandate sick pay.  State rep John Knowles of Hudson agrees, according to this morning’s UL, claiming that “sometimes government does things for the benefit of all people…”  Nikki Murphy from the New Hampshire Women’s lobby says studies show that employers save money by minimizing the spread of illness.   

The NH House committee on Labor, Industrial and rehabilitative services is set to vote on this tomorrow.  I’m against it.  For all the reasons I mentioned here.

The lost revenue for tracking, policing, and litigating cases will grow government at the expense of business, not only costing them growth revenue up front to pay for the mandate, but also costing them in increased taxes to pay for more government.  And everyone will pay.

So what Rep Knowles alludes too---doing things for the benefit of all---is in fact do-goodery at the expense of all.   This amounts to lower wages, less opportunity, and another reason for businesses to stay away from New Hampshire at a time when the legislatures only focus should be on attracting business and employment.  Business growth is a solution to two problems that will actually increase revenues without adding new taxes.  So what do we do?  We make it cost more to do business here.

The mandatory sick pay regulations are taking us (again) in the wrong direction.  From energy, to taxation, to employment, this state government is doing everything it can to keep New Hampshire from attracting businesses that will compete for employees and grow our economy.  

Comments

[Jim Splaine]

I've got mixed feelings on this legislation. I know that some workers really abuse their sick days -- through my work life, I've seen many examples. But there are also so many of us who work on low-paying jobs who live paycheck-to-paycheck, and to have to take one, two, three days off of work during a given week can put a family in dire straights.

What we should be encouraging is the development of businesses in New Hampshire that pay livable wages. When we bring in corporate-based service-type businesses that pay close to minimum wage, we make it harder and harder for families to make ends meet. Good companies pay reasonable wages and benefits.

[Steven J. Connolly]

"What we should be encouraging is the development of businesses in New Hampshire that pay livable wages. When we bring in corporate-based service-type businesses that pay close to minimum wage, we make it harder and harder for families to make ends meet. Good companies pay reasonable wages and benefits."

Thank you Mr. Splaine. I'd encourage you to spend some time in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as I have to see what could happen in New Hampshire.

I'm not talking about legalizing casino gaming either.

Consider operations like National Beef and its new caselot facility in Pa. Consider various logistics operations that are now moving in Pennsylvania to serve markets like New York and Philadelphia.

I know meat packaging and logistics isn't terribly exciting but I'll tell you these are all positions that pay very well.

New Hampshire would be perfect to serve markets like Boston, Portland, Maine and possibly places like Burlington, VT. Cross-Border trade with Canada would be possible as well.

So tell me Mr. Splaine what is missing here?

[Steven J. Connolly]

The starting place might be at 172 Pembroke Road in Concord.

While you're at it you might talk about the future of Coos county.

It's getting pretty bad.

[Steve Mac Donald]

The bill is happily limping after its committee vote.

As to development. We need a bottom up commitment to improving the business environment. The North East is loaded with things businesses need. If New Hampshire had the sense to create even more seperation from nearby states instead of following just behind--that tax and regulatory race to the bottom mentality--I think we'd be in better shape all around.

[Steven J. Connolly]

"As to development. We need a bottom up commitment to improving the business environment."

And how exactly do you propose to do this MacDonald?

You're a politician. Stick to what you know.