Mike Enzi: “Even if one accepts the idea that the minimum wage should be used as a tool of economic policy, it is quite obviously a…”

“Even if one accepts the idea that the minimum wage should be used as a tool of economic policy, it is quite obviously a tool that should be used with precision, not indiscriminately wielded like a sledge hammer. State and local economies are vastly different, however, one-size-fits-all Federal legislation totally dismisses those important differences. It also misses the point that states are in a far better position to determine what is best for their local economies. Federal "solutions" often ignore local and regional experience and judgment, or worse still, just arrogantly cast it aside. There is just no room for debate over the fact that there is a vast difference from State to State in terms of the cost of living, the cost of doing business, and the purchasing power of a dollar. A nationally based minimum wage adjustment simply ignores these important differences. It discriminates against both employees and employers based solely upon where they choose to live and work or to establish their businesses.”