Small business owners concerned

MOSES LAKE - Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, and Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, discussed work force issues with small business owners in Moses Lake recently in preparation for the 2008 legislative session.

According to the two lawmakers, one of the primary points of discussion concerned the teenage work force and minimum wage.

"It is concerning that so many teenagers do not have access to the work force because the state is forcing small businesses to pay the highest minimum wage in the country," Warnick said. "If we can get more young adults working part-time jobs, those individuals will not be inclined to join gangs and engage in criminal activity."

Business owners told the lawmakers the minimum wage increases have resulted in a smaller teenage work force.

"High school students are looking for valuable work experience, money for college and the opportunity to make an honest dollar," Hinkle said. "At the same time small business looks to these students to fill a valuable role in the work force. The problem is government red tape is making it too difficult for such an easy process to work."

Hinkle and Warnick said they plan to present the concerns of the small business owners to their peers in January once the new legislative session begins.