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FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CHAMBER PROFESSIONALS OPPOSE AMENDMENT 2 (October 13, 2020) – The Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP) voted at their October meeting to oppose Amendment 2, which, if passed, would raise Florida’s Minimum Wage to $15 per hour. While the statewide association comprised of chambers of commerce is not opposed to fair wages, it is opposed to circumventing the legislative process and having the issue as an amendment to the state’s constitution. If passed, this amendment would make Florida the first and only state in the nation with a $15 an hour mandate in its constitution. In addition, the following concerns were also noted in the decision to oppose the constitutional amendment: Amendment 2 is effectively a tax increase, which would drive up inflation and dramatically increase the cost of living for all Floridians. Amendment 2 would force businesses to shift their workforce to more experienced workers, leaving fewer jobs for entry-level workers, such as students and those looking to re-enter the workforce. Amendment 2 would be detrimental to businesses that are already struggling to recover from the pandemic. Chairman of the FACP Board and President & CEO of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Cory Skeates, JD, IOM, FCCP, noted, “If passed, Amendment 2 would make Florida the first and only state in the nation with a $15 an hour mandate in its state constitution. The Florida Constitution is a sacred document that is meant to address the framework of our state government and not serve as a means by which special interests enact bad policy by circumventing the legislative process.” “Not only is it a bad idea to have this considered as a constitutional amendment, the timing of this could not be worse for the residents and businesses in our state. Raising minimum wage by 75% while we are still working to recover from a pandemic would likely be the final nail in the coffin for many companies and would result in the loss of jobs by the Floridians that they employed,” stated FACP President Tammy C. Bracewell, IOM. “On the surface, it sounds good, but the unintended consequences most definitely negate the positives,” Bracewell added. FACP is an organization whose mission is “Advancing excellence in chamber management” and whose vision is “Enhancing Florida's business communities by cultivating successful chamber professionals.” For more information, contact Tammy Bracewell at 1-800-226-3269 or via email director@facponline.com
FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CHAMBER PROFESSIONALS OPPOSE AMENDMENT 2
(October 13, 2020) – The Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP) voted at their October meeting to oppose Amendment 2, which, if passed, would raise Florida’s Minimum Wage to $15 per hour.
While the statewide association comprised of chambers of commerce is not opposed to fair wages, it is opposed to circumventing the legislative process and having the issue as an amendment to the state’s constitution. If passed, this amendment would make Florida the first and only state in the nation with a $15 an hour mandate in its constitution.
In addition, the following concerns were also noted in the decision to oppose the constitutional amendment:
Amendment 2 is effectively a tax increase, which would drive up inflation and dramatically increase the cost of living for all Floridians.
Amendment 2 would force businesses to shift their workforce to more experienced workers, leaving fewer jobs for entry-level workers, such as students and those looking to re-enter the workforce.
Amendment 2 would be detrimental to businesses that are already struggling to recover from the pandemic.
Chairman of the FACP Board and President & CEO of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Cory Skeates, JD, IOM, FCCP, noted, “If passed, Amendment 2 would make Florida the first and only state in the nation with a $15 an hour mandate in its state constitution. The Florida Constitution is a sacred document that is meant to address the framework of our state government and not serve as a means by which special interests enact bad policy by circumventing the legislative process.”
“Not only is it a bad idea to have this considered as a constitutional amendment, the timing of this could not be worse for the residents and businesses in our state. Raising minimum wage by 75% while we are still working to recover from a pandemic would likely be the final nail in the coffin for many companies and would result in the loss of jobs by the Floridians that they employed,” stated FACP President Tammy C. Bracewell, IOM. “On the surface, it sounds good, but the unintended consequences most definitely negate the positives,” Bracewell added.
FACP is an organization whose mission is “Advancing excellence in chamber management” and whose vision is “Enhancing Florida's business communities by cultivating successful chamber professionals.” For more information, contact Tammy Bracewell at 1-800-226-3269 or via email director@facponline.com