Fasano: Minimum Wage Increase in Fragile Economy is No Solution

Hartford – Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven) released the following statement regarding the Senate Democrats’ comments on today’s committee vote on the proposed Senate bill to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour.

“Further raising Connecticut’s minimum wage during this fragile economic time will only make it harder for people to find new jobs and lead to increased costs across the board. If the minimum wage goes up again, so will prices and so will taxes. The same people who are struggling today will be struggling tomorrow because a false economy is not a long-term solution. It’s using a charade as an answer that masks the deeper problems and obstacles people are faced with every day,” said Fasano.

“Today, Republicans made it clear that we will not accept the false hope that another minimum wage increase can solve the problems so many families are struggling with. Lawmakers should be looking at ways to create an environment where opportunities for new higher paying jobs can flourish, not making promises that a change in the minimum wage will bring people a better future. We have to do so much more to help people move up and out of poverty, especially in our cities. Republicans have shared ideas to foster this growth and we want to work with Democrats to explore these concepts together. But comments made today by Senate Democrat leaders show that they would rather play politics than talk about the policies that are making it difficult for families to thrive. They are desperate to distract from the fact that their actions have made it harder for people to succeed in our state. And sadly, that approach does nothing to help those who are truly struggling.”