The FMWF Chamber urges Minnesota business leaders to continue opposition on Paid Leave Program

This week, the Minnesota Senate passed HF 2 by a 1-seat majority (34-33). This bill establishes a mandatory 20-week Paid Family and Medical Leave program within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, raising payroll taxes on Minnesota employees and employers and substantially changing the business climate of Minnesota. The bill now heads to the conference committee for further consideration. The conference committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow, May 12 at 8:00 a.m.
 
“In a time of an over $17 billion budget surplus, the State of Minnesota should be looking for creative solutions to becoming more competitive, not less,” said Shannon Full, President and CEO of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce. “Businesses, both large and small, across Minnesota are once again faced with a one-size-fits-all mandate that will ultimately impact their bottom line.”
 
“Time and time again, the Minnesota business community continues to step up and push back again anti-business legislation and mandates,” Full stated. “Despite this vote, I would sincerely like to thank the business community for their steadfast advocacy on this topic; however, we can still influence change! As the bill enters into the conference committee process, I ask that members of our community continue to voice their opposition with our local Minnesota legislators, members of the conference committee and Governor Walz. These key leaders have an opportunity to bring pragmatic amendments to the process.”
 
“The global competitiveness and prosperity of Minnesota’s business climate remains a top priority for The Chamber,” said Full.
 
The conferees have been named for the conference committee on the SF 2/HF 2, the Paid Family and Medical Leave bill. Our local District 4 Legislator, Senator Rob Kupec, has been named as one of the three senate conferees.

The Chamber encourages Minnesota business leaders to reach out to the following elected officials to voice opposition on this matter.