State Rep. Timmy Beson, of Bay City, today issued the following statement as House Democrats continue their refusal to address pressing issues, notably the pending elimination of the tipped wage and unrealistic parameters put on job providers for paid sick time:

“Without legislative intervention before February, workers will lose their jobs, businesses will close, and Michigan’s economy will suffer. We have a duty to protect people we represent, help them thrive, and limit government overreach. I’m continuing to fight for reforms in the Legislature that respect all sides of this equation.

“The Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) will force job providers of all sizes to follow extensive, burdensome laws that are found almost nowhere else in the country. It’s going to have a huge impact for our state. In some cases, it will force job providers to make drastic changes even if they have a policy that meets or exceeds what’s required. The ESTA expands sick leave to all employees regardless of if they’re full-time workers, seasonal, or even subcontractors, changes notification requirements which will create staffing issues, and will pit businesses against their employees in costly litigation. 

“These mandates are going to send our local economies into a spiral. Additional benefits don’t matter if a job has been eliminated and a business has either closed or packed up and moved elsewhere. We need constructive conversations and a better way forward instead of the inaction that we’re seeing.”