CRHA Statement on Senator Murphy’s Proposed $25/hour National Minimum Wage

This week, Senator Murphy introduced a bill that would create a $25/hour national minimum wage, and the CRHA had to speak out. 97% of Connecticut’s hospitality businesses are small, independently owned and operated businesses with razor thin profit margins.

When the government forces labor costs to skyrocket, they will have no choice but to pass those costs onto consumers, making it more expensive to take your family out for a meal. It’s an inflationary cycle that hurts working-class people, and we think our senators’ time would be better spent on legislation that actually supports small businesses.

"The recent endorsement of a $25 national minimum wage by Senator Murphy reveals a fundamental disconnect that too many lawmakers have with the reality of running a small business today. While a political promise like this may sound appealing on the surface, the practical reality is that it will hurt the very working-class entrepreneurs that elected officials are claiming to champion.

"Here in Connecticut, an incredible 97% of our hospitality businesses are independently owned and operated. These are not massive corporate conglomerates — they are neighborhood establishments run by hard-working people who are already facing unprecedented costs and challenges. Connecticut is also home to a state minimum wage of $16.94 per hour, which currently stands as the second-highest in the country.

"When the government mandates that labor costs should skyrocket, those expenses don’t just disappear. Small business owners have no choice but to pass those costs onto the consumer, leading to significant price increases for anyone who just wants to take their family out for a meal or an overnight stay. The result is an inflationary cycle where everything becomes more expensive, stretching family budgets thinner and ultimately making everyday life harder for the middle class.

"Our association will always remain focused on ensuring the interests of our local businesses are protected. We urge our leaders in Washington to pursue sensible economic policies that actually support small business growth, rather than threaten the survival of the independent operators who form the backbone of our local communities."

- Scott Dolch, CRHA President & CEO

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