[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 39 (Monday, April 3, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H1659-H1660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, several weeks ago the 
House debated, and passed, a bill to increase the minimum wage. 
Unfortunately, I was unable to get to the floor to participate in the 
debate. But I want to revisit the issue today, so that I can share with 
you a constituent letter I received from a small business owner in 
Kinston, North Carolina.
  Madam Speaker, Ken Moore is an example of an entrepreneur who, 
without interference from the government, started a business with a 
single restaurant in 1991, and now has 39 locations throughout Eastern 
North Carolina. And along the way, he has shared his success by 
extending opportunities to his employees.
  When Mr. Moore learned that the House would be debating a minimum 
wage increase, he sent me a letter to share how the mandate would 
affect his small business and communities throughout Eastern North 
Carolina. I wanted to share part of his letter with the Congress.
  Madam Speaker, Mr. Moore wrote, and I quote:

       Congressman Jones:
       I started Andy's in March of 1991 in Goldsboro, North 
     Carolina. As of today, we have grown to 39 locations 
     throughout Eastern North Carolina and have another six 
     locations under construction.
       The reason for our success has always been because we give 
     our hourly associates the opportunity to own an Andy's 
     restaurant. We have never looked for outside investors, 
     preferring to train our people and give them the opportunity 
     to operate and eventually own their business. We call this 
     ``starting at the minimum and earning the maximum.'' We now 
     have many success stories throughout our company achieved 
     through this philosophy.
       The unfunded mandate of minimum wage put in place by 
     Washington will hurt our business, associates, and neighbors 
     in Eastern North Carolina.
       We conducted a survey of nearly 700 employees and found 
     only two earning minimum wage that were the primary wage 
     earners for their family. These happen to be single moms who 
     already receive some government assistance.
       Two out of the 700 makes a mockery out of the political 
     line that families can't exist on minimum wage. The much-
     touted family of four making minimum wage and trying to 
     subsist doesn't exist, at least not within Andy's.
       We don't believe that America is about handouts, but is 
     based on hard work and persistence. These are the values we 
     strive to teach our associates.
       An increase in the minimum wage will mean an increase in 
     prices, something which I don't want to do. Minimum wage 
     increases invariably cause us to lay some people off and 
     delay hiring new folks. This is sad, but simply the truth.
       I would like all politicians in favor of increasing the 
     minimum wage to simply tell the truth. Increasing the minimum 
     wage is a tax increase, period.

  Madam Speaker, I will include the entire text of the letter in the 
Record.
  Madam Speaker, Ken Moore is just one of thousands of small business 
owners across this country, who recognize the effects an increase in 
the minimum wage will have on their businesses, and their communities. 
I appreciate the opportunity to share Mr. Moore's story. Because I 
believe that his concerns are shared by many small business owners 
across the country.


                                        The Little Mint, Inc.,

                                       Kinston, NC, March 7, 2000.
     Re Minimum wage increase.

     To: Walter B. Jones, Jr.
     From: Kenneth K. Moore
       I started Andy's in March of 1991 in Goldsboro, NC. As of 
     today we have grown to 39 locations throughout Eastern NC and 
     have another 6 locations under construction. The reason for 
     our success has always been because we give our hourly 
     associates the opportunity to own an Andy's restaurant. We 
     have never looked for outside investors, preferring to train 
     our people and give them the opportunity to operate and 
     eventually own their business. We call this ``starting at the 
     minimum and earning the maximum.'' We now have many success 
     stories throughout our company achieved through this 
     philosophy.
       Eastern NC is a rural area that has been through much 
     during the past year. We have been rocked by hurricanes and 
     floods during their aftermath. Our home is not a wealthy 
     area. However, our people are the salt of the earth and work 
     very hard to pay taxes and raise good children.
       Eastern NC economy is predominately agriculturally based 
     and with tobacco taking a beating in the press and in 
     Washington many farmers have turned to pork production. Our 
     state government has now placed a moratorium on that. At 
     Andy's, we understand our neighbor's plight and have only 
     raised prices in our stores twice in 9 years. Both times have 
     been due to minimum wage increases. As you can tell, we are 
     trying to do our part.
       The unfunded mandate of minimum wage put in place by 
     Washington will hurt our businesses, associates, and 
     neighbors in Eastern NC. We conducted a survey of nearly our 
     700 employees and found only 2 earning minimum wage that were 
     the primary wage earners for their family. These happen to be 
     single moms who already receive some government assistance. 
     Two out of the 700 makes a mockery out of the political line 
     that families can't exist on minimum wage. The much-touted 
     family of four making minimum wage and trying to subsist 
     doesn't exist, at least not within Andy's.
       Andy's has had very little employee turnover because we 
     give people the opportunity to grow. Even the teenagers who 
     comprise the vast amount of our minimum wage earners don't 
     leave us. We have a yearly banquet at which we strive to 
     inspire and motivate them to grow into solid citizens. We 
     give scholarships and awards. We also continued to pay our 
     minimum wage earners after the restaurants were flooded in 
     the wake of Hurricane Floyd. All we asked them to do was to 
     volunteer to help out in their local shelters. We teach our 
     young people that there is already an increase in the minimum 
     wage. It is called doing a good job!
       We don't believe that America is about handouts but is 
     based on hard work and persistence. These are the values we 
     strive to teach our associates. An increase in the minimum 
     wage will mean an increase in prices, something which I don't 
     want to do. Minimum wage increases invariably cause us to lay 
     some people off and delay hiring new folks. This is sad, but 
     simply the truth.
       I would like all politicians in favor of increasing the 
     minimum wage to simply tell the truth. Increasing the minimum 
     wage is a tax increase, period. The increase is simply 
     another way for the government to make 15.6 cents on every 
     dollar. If you truly want to help teenagers make more money, 
     then waive the playoff taxes on the increase. If the truth be 
     told the increase makes for great reelection material, 
     doesn't it?
       I remember a young lady who worked for me when I first 
     started my business some years ago. She is now an elementary 
     school teacher and a wonderful person. I saw her not long ago 
     and we reminisced about a Chrismas Party we had in my 
     original location in 1993. I didn't have the money for 
     Christmas gifts for my small crew, so I gave each one a card 
     with a personal note. As I was reminding her of this she 
     stopped me

[[Page H1660]]

     and reached for her purse, opening her wallet and produced 
     the note from that night (6 years later). I wonder if she 
     would have saved a pay stub with a minimum wage increase?
       Folks, there is more to running a business than a lot of 
     you may think. With an increase in wages, hiring will cease, 
     and perhaps we will not be able to touch the life of some 
     young person as I did years ago. I live and work in Eastern 
     NC and I am proud to do business here. Please let me do it my 
     way. Our friends, neighbors, and associates live in towns 
     with names such as Beulaville, Kenansville, Mt. Olive, 
     Kinston and Grifton, not Camelot.
           Thanks,
                                                 Kenneth K. Moore,
     President/Founder.

                          ____________________