The House, Thursday, January 9, 2020

Speaker ShurtleffRep. Kanzler moves floor amendment (2897h). The Chair recognizes the member from North Conway, Rep. Kanzler, to speak to his amendment.

Rep. Harrison Kanzler (D - Carr 2)Thank you, I will try to keep this quick. We did a lot of discussing on the minimum wage bill. We had several hearings on it because we had several bills and I've had a lot of discussions with my colleagues across the aisle as well as in the other body. In talks I've had one thing became pretty clear to me which is that there aren't too, too many people who are opposed to a minimum wage. What they are opposed to is something that is going to upend potentially the economic status that we see right now in our state. In those discussions I have heard the idea of $10 an hour being proposed by some of my colleagues as being the economic minimum that we see now. It is the effective minimum wage based on what we see in the state. If we put forward a minimum wage of $10, we are setting the bar there. We are establishing that most businesses are already paying this and we are not going to cause any detriment to most businesses that we see as well as giving some benefit to those who are potentially being predatorially employed at a wage that is substandard to what our economy has set. So I encourage you to please vote for this amendment. I think that it will do a lot for businesses. I think it will do a lot for employees and I think it will put us on the right foot to having an established minimum wage in the State of New Hampshire. Thank you.

Speaker ShurtleffThe Chair recognizes the member from Dover, Rep. Conley to speak against the recommendation.

Rep. Casey Conley (D - Straf 13)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Colleagues, I rise today in opposition to the proposal to raise the minimum wage but only to $10 an hour. This proposal is well intended but it amounts to an unconditional and unnecessary compromise in the fight for a living wage. When the clock struck midnight on New Year's Day, the minimum wage went up in Maine, went up in Massachusetts and it went up in Vermont. In Maine, the lowest hourly wage is $12 an hour and in Vermont it's $10.96 and in Massachusetts it's $12.75. Here in New Hampshire, of course, it's $7.25 but if this measure were to pass, New Hampshire would still have the lowest minimum wage of any surrounding state. I ask why New Hampshire workers should earn less for their labor than the same people in corresponding states. Last year this body approved an incremental increase in minimum wage to $12. We all know what happened next and there is no reason to believe a $10 an hour wage would have any different outcome. The reality is that we can control only what we do in this chamber. I ask for supporters of a minimum wage to support a wage that you truly believe in. New Hampshire workers deserve fair pay for their labor. They deserve a paycheck that meets the basic needs for themselves and their families. Based on that premise, $13 or even $15 already amounts to a compromise. Even so, both would represent an important first step and one that I hope you will support. So with that I urge you to oppose this amendment and press the red button. Thank you.

Speaker ShurtleffRep. Baldasaro has asked for a roll call vote. Is that sufficiently seconded? It is sufficiently seconded. This will be a roll call vote. Members will kindly take their seats. The question before the House is the motion to adopt floor amendment (2897h). This will be a roll call vote. The Chair recognizes Rep. Adjutant for a parliamentary inquiry.

Rep. Joshua Adjutant (D - Graf 16)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Mister Speaker, if I know that it was the great President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who created the minimum wage, who said that it was meant to be not bare sustenance, but a decent standard of living and $10 an hour is not that. If I know that putting money in the hands of spenders instead of savers and speculators will reverse our trend toward a second gilded age and stimulate our economy and $10 an hour will not do that. And, lastly Mister Speaker if I know that all of my colleagues deserve the opportunity to vote unanimously on $15 an hour because I hope they will agree with me...

Speaker ShurtleffWill the member suspend? That other issue is not before the floor. You are here for a parliamentary inquiry on the amendment we are actually voting on. You may proceed.

Rep. Joshua Adjutant (D - Graf 16)If I know that we must defeat this amendment so that other amendments may be made because all of my colleagues deserve the opportunity to potentially vote on those amendments because I hope they will agree with me that it is wrong for businesses that can afford to pay a living wage to have become so use to government being a means to their bottom line that they can push all their overworked and..

Speaker ShurtleffThe member will suspend. This is a parliamentary inquiry. I don't want to give the member a hard time, but we know in this body we have a form in which parliamentary inquiries are made and you have kind of strayed off that a couple of times and so hopefully you are close to wrapping this up.

Rep. Joshua Adjutant (D - Graf 16)Mister Speaker, if I know that or if I believe that it is wrong for businesses to push their overworked and underpaid employees.

Speaker ShurtleffMember will suspend. You cannot make a broad statement about businesses in the State of New Hampshire. We are very proud of the businesspeople in this community. I have had nobody come to me personally and say that they feel their employer is overworking them and underpaying them. If anybody is underpaid it is all of us here in this chamber. If you want to talk about the underpaid in the New Hampshire Legislature you may have some merit there, but to make a broad statement that denigrates New Hampshire businesses is not appropriate on this floor.

Rep. Joshua Adjutant (D - Graf 16)Okay, Mister Speaker, if I know that nobody can live on $10 an hour and that's wrong, would I now press the red button? Thank you.

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House is the motion to adopt floor amendment (2897h). The Chair recognizes Rep. Kanzler for a parliamentary inquiry.

Rep. Harrison Kanzler (D - Carr 2)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Mister Speaker, if I know that we will all get a chance to vote on the next amendment regardless of how we vote on this one. And, if I also know that mandating multi-year increases to a minimum wage without allowing time in between those raises to assess how it's impacting our economy and make sure we are doing the right thing for everyone in New Hampshire. And, further Mister Speaker, if I know that I am up here representing not only Democrats but Republicans as well and that regardless as to my political affiliation, I need to take everyone's thoughts into consideration, would I now press the green button and vote in favor of this amendment? Thank you.

Speaker ShurtleffThis will be a roll call vote. The question before the House is the adoption of floor amendment (2897h). If you are in favor of the amendment, you will vote by pressing the green button. If you are opposed, you'll press the red button. Voting stations will be open for 30 seconds. Have all members present had an opportunity to vote? The House will be attentive to the state of the vote. With 189 members voting Yea and 170 members voting Nay, the floor amendment passes. The question now before the House is on the adoption of floor amendment (0024h) which should be in your seat pockets. The Chair recognizes the member from Concord, Rep. Schultz to speak to her amendment.

Rep. Kris Schultz (D - Merr 18)Thank you, Mister Speaker. As some national retailers get to $15 this year, including Target, too many hardworking Granite Staters get left behind. When you look at the type of jobs earning less than $15, it's a wide range. It includes personal care aides and even department of transportation workers and other state employees. Thousands of state workers are stuck with low wage full-time jobs while receiving public assistance and some companies even coach their workers and encourage them to go on public assistance. Too many of them have to take second jobs, keeping them away from their families for 60 plus hours a week. Martin Luther King, Jr. said all labor has dignity and yet hardworking people are forced to seek government help while doing all that society asks of them. For all our discussion about personal responsibility that any full-time worker in this state, the Granite State, has to seek public assistance, I find unacceptable. The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute says that even in Coos County a living wage in New Hampshire for two adults and one child is $53,000. If you factor in medical debts, student loans and let's give them a retirement too, that would get us to $33 an hour. So $15 is actually already a compromise even for Coos County. So I hope you'll stand with me and our members of Congress, Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas and support a $15 minimum wage. Thank you.

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House is the adoption of floor amendment (0024h). The Chair recognizes the member from Brookline, Rep. Flannagan, to speak against the amendment.

Rep. Jack Flanagan (R - Hills 26)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Colleagues, isn't amazing how we learn when we spend more and more time here what the right things and the wrong things to do? First of all, this is not our first pass on minimum wage and as we remember Governor Sununu had vetoed a bill that had smaller dollar amounts than what's being referenced on the bill in question that's being amended so let's not forget that. Second of all is the provisions in here talk about an increase based on consumer pricing so that puts another load on our businesses that have to pay the minimum wage to the 1,400 people that are making minimum wage, not including tipped wage employees. They are still classified as minimum wage but they do not make a minimum wage. I had the conversation last night at Tandy's trying to explain to somebody that even though tipped wage people are classified as minimum wage employees, they don't make $7.25 an hour. I want to just touch a little bit about the $15 an hour number that is being floated around here and it reminds me of a comment that the Mayor of New York City had said about $30 pizza on New Year's Eve. Do you all remember that, that they were charging $30 for a pizza during the New Year's Eve celebration? But New York City has a $15 an hour pay and since it's not 5 or 6:00, it's after hours so they are making time and a half. So, the people delivering pizzas are making $22 an hour to say here is your pizza. So, the mayor is upset that this business is charging $30 for a pizza and I believe one of my colleagues is going to talk about the downside of increasing minimum wage because increased labor cost is one of them and that's a first-hand experience. Of course, my favorite part about talking about minimum wage is one of my favorite fast food restaurants is Panera Bread. I don't know if anybody goes there but there used to be six or seven people working behind the counter at the cash registers. Now there is two and there is four screens that if you want to make your order, you can feel free to make it at the screen. So, if you want to hurt labor and you want to hurt the people making minimum wage, you want to put another nail in the coffin, vote this bill. Thank you, Mister Speaker. Please vote red.

Speaker ShurtleffWill the member yield to a question? Rep. Horn, you are recognized. No, the other Rep. Horn is recognized. You have to wait your turn. You may inquire.

Rep. Werner Horn (R - Merr 3)Thank you, Mister Speaker and thank you for taking my question. Was there compelling data driven testimony offered during the public hearings to substantiate why a move of the minimum wage should be appropriate at this time? Representative Flanagan: I thank the Representative for the question. The most driving force and I think you heard it here was it's not a livable wage and I've said before numerous times is that minimum wage is for people that have no skills and that the employer is taking a chance on the employee.

Speaker ShurtleffWill the member suspend? The member will suspend. I know some of you are new to this chamber. Let me explain what you do when you want to make a point of order. You do not jump up in your seat and start yelling. That's step one. You come down to the well and say Mister Speaker, I wish to make a point of order. Then you state your point of order. Will the member yield to another question?

Rep. Jack Flanagan (R - Hills 26)As I have said to a number of freshmen, both Democrat and Republican, I will be more than happy to take questions.

Rep. Nicole Klein-Knight (D - Hills 11)Thank you, Speaker. I just want to know what you think a fair wage for someone delivering pizzas on an ice storm, putting their life at risk to feed their families would be?

Rep. Jack Flanagan (R - Hills 26)Thank you for the question. What I think that wage should be is really no barring because the employee...

Rep. Jack Flanagan (R - Hills 26)The amount of money someone makes should not be dictated by somebody in here. It's between the employer and the employee so if we say $15 an hour and they negotiate $17, great, but I have nothing to say as it relates to how much somebody's going to be making. Thank you.

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House. The House will be in order. The question before the House. Now I'm getting hungry. The question before the House is the motion to adopt floor amendment (0024h). Rep. Baldasaro has requested a roll call vote. Is that sufficiently seconded? It is sufficiently seconded. This will be a roll call vote. Members will kindly take their seats. The question before the House is the motion to adopt floor amendment (0024h). The Chair recognizes Rep. Flanagan for a parliamentary inquiry.

Rep. Jack Flanagan (R - Hills 26)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Mister Speaker, if I know this has been an ongoing debate and we probably not be anywhere close to an agreement. And, Mister Speaker, do I know that only 1,400 people are making minimum wage in the State of New Hampshire, excluding tipped wages. And, if I know this bill has automatic increases, which will make it even harder for businesses in the State of New Hampshire, would I now vote red and vote down this amendment? Thank you, Mister Speaker.

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House is the adoption of floor amendment (0024h). The Chair recognizes Rep. Cushing for a parliamentary inquiry.

Rep. Robert Renny Cushing (D - Rock 21)Mister Speaker, if I know that we are becoming a state that is divided between those who are doing very, very well and those who are being left behind. And, if I know that there are 173,000 people in the State of New Hampshire who make less than $15 an hour. And, if I know that the fight for $15 is a battle for economic justice and an economy that works for everyone, not just the few, would I now press the green button and establish a $15 an hour minimum wage?

Speaker ShurtleffThis will be a roll call vote. The question before the House is the adoption of floor amendment (0024h). If you are in favor, you'll press the green button. If you are opposed, you'll press the red button. Voting stations will be open for 15 seconds. Have all members present had an opportunity to vote? The House will be attentive to the state of the vote. With 189 members voting Yea and 177 voting Nay, the motion to adopt (0024h) passes. The question now before the House is on the motion of Ought to Pass as Amended. The Chair recognizes the member from Meredith, Rep. Mackie, to speak against the motion.

Rep. Jonathan Mackie (R - Belk 2)Thank you, Mister Speaker. I rise in opposition to the committee report as amended of Ought to Pass. An arbitrary minimum wage hurts the people it is supposed to help. A business has two options when faced with higher labor costs, cut the number of employees or cut the number of hours. According to a survey of restaurants in states that recently raised the minimum wage, 64% of them reduced employee hours and 43% eliminated jobs. A study by the Congressional Budget Office on the effects of raising the minimum wage on a national level predicted an increase to $15 an hour would most likely put 1.3 million Americans out of work. With an unemployment rate hovering around 2.5% and the average statewide wage at just under $26 an hour and a median household income that is the 4th highest in the nation and has the lowest poverty rate in the nation, what good will raising New Hampshire minimum wage do? Very little good plus some significant damage. While very few people in New Hampshire are paid the current minimum wage, a number of entry level jobs have a pay rate between the current minimum and the proposed new minimum. Employers are willing to take a chance on unskilled and or inexperienced worker if the rate of pay reflects those realities. If the rate of pay is set to a level that is above the value of the skills and experience of the worker, the employer is more likely to look to automation or outsourcing to get the job done. Instead of passing counterproductive minimum wage legislation, we should work to continue to do the things that help deliver a strong economy, lowering the tax burden on employers, cutting regulations and reducing electricity and healthcare costs. This would ensure that New Hampshire workers would be paid much higher wages than those proposed by HB 731. I fear that if this bill passes, the young and inexperienced workers will discover instead of the promised minimum wage of this bill, they will find themselves receiving what has always been the minimum wage, zero dollars per hour, the wage when you don't have a job. I urge you to vote no on the Ought to Pass recommendation so another motion can be made. Thank you.

Speaker ShurtleffI thank the member. The question before the House is the recommendation that the bill Ought to Pass as Amended. The Chair recognizes the member from Grantham, Rep. Sullivan to speak for the motion.

Rep. Brian Sullivan (D - Sull 1)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Colleagues, it is long past time that New Hampshire adopt a minimum wage. I'm happy to see that it's going to be moving in a graduated step towards $15 an hour. We are joining the movement to reach for $15. This month 21 states have increased their minimum wage. Seven have been increased by automatic cost of living increases. Fourteen have been statutorily increased. New Hampshire is the only state in New England that does not have a minimum wage. It's the only state in New England that has a minimum wage under $10 an hour. Massachusetts is $12.75. Maine is $12. Vermont is $10.96. Rhode Island is $10.50 and New Hampshire is $7.25. We need to start catching up. New Hampshire struggles to find workers with unemployment around 2.5%. If New Hampshire workers cross into neighboring states, New Hampshire businesses will suffer. Benefits of an increased minimum wage are many. Among them, fewer people will be on public assistance. Low wage parents will be able to spend more time with their families. There will be improved nutrition for the families of low wage earners and there will be increased stability of low wage workers to find affordable housing. Polls have shown that a strong majority of New Hampshire Democrats, Independents and Republicans favor a substantially higher minimum wage. Colleagues, it's time for New Hampshire to adopt a minimum wage. Please press the green button and move the minimum wage forward. Thank you.

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House if the recommendation that the bill Ought to Pass as Amended. The Chair recognizes the member from Grantham, Rep. Mackie, to speak. I'm a page behind everybody else. Rep. Baldasaro has requested a roll call vote. Is that sufficiently seconded? It is sufficiently seconded. This will be a roll call vote. The question before the House is the recommendation that HB 731 Ought to Pass as Amended. The Chair recognizes Rep. Nunez for a parliamentary inquiry.

Rep. Hershel Nunez (R - Hills 37)Thank you, Mister Speaker. Mister Speaker, if I know that statistics show a high percentage of employers are forced to reduce hours or even eliminate jobs due to raises in the minimum wage. If I know that small businesses in New Hampshire, especially in our North Country, may not be able to afford to pay higher wages. And, if I believe that free markets should determine salaries and wages and that contracts and agreements negotiated between perspective employees and employers will determine compensation and benefits then would I press the red button? Thank you.

Speaker ShurtleffThe question before the House is the recommendation that the bill Ought to Pass as Amended. The Chair recognizes Rep. Schultz for a parliamentary inquiry.

Rep. Kris Schultz (D - Merr 18)If I know that 173,000 Granite Staters make less than $15,000 a year, most of whom have families. And, if I know we get to $15 over 5 steps, including the first two under $10, then would I please push the color of cash and push green?

Speaker ShurtleffThis is a roll call vote. The question before the House is the recommendation that HB 731 Ought to Pass as Amended. If you are in favor, you'll press the green button. If you're opposed, you'll press the red button. Voting stations will be open for 30 seconds. Have all members present had an opportunity to vote? The House will be attentive to the state of the vote. With 212 members voting Yea and 155 voting Nay, the Yeas have it and the recommendation is adopted.