State Rep. Ron Robinson, R-Utica City, spoke out in defense of fellow small business owners in Michigan during the term’s first meeting of the Special Committee on Protecting Michigan Employees and Small Businesses on Tuesday. The committee heard testimony on House Republicans’ first two introduced bills, House Bills 4001 and 4002, which will protect tip wages and amend paid leave and minimum wage requirements to far more realistic levels for small businesses.

“We are at a rare moment of agreement in Michigan,” Robinson said. “Everyone from servers, to owners, to customers all agree that these pending changes are disaster for Michiganders. Today’s committee hearing marks an important first step towards cleaning up the mess left from last term and protecting small businesses from unreasonable government mandates.”

Following the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling last year that declared the adopt-and-amend strategy employed by previous legislatures unconstitutional, laws eliminating tip wages for restaurant workers and requiring raised minimum wage and paid leave levels are set to go into effect next month. Many of Michigan’s restaurant owners have warned that these laws will likely result in drastically increased prices, employee layoffs, and potential business closures. The legislature last term refused to act on these concerns, but House Republicans have made addressing the issue their first priority this term.

“Last year, Michigan voters saw out of touch politicians blatantly disregarding the entrepreneurial leaders and employees that drive Michigan’s economy,” Robinson said. “As someone who operates a small business, I understand the needs and struggles of the fellow small business owners that employ nearly half of Michigan’s workforce. Dozens on these hardworking Michiganders the braved hazardous road conditions to make their voices heard. The small business community of Michigan made themselves crystal clear today: we won’t let them down.”