State Rep. Jen Wortz (R-Quincy) issued the following statement after the Select Committee on Protecting Michigan Employees and Small Businesses passed House Bills 4001 and 4002 on Thursday morning.

“The new Republican majority’s immediate action on this issue will save businesses in my district from disaster. The changes to the Earned Sick Time Act that went unaddressed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature last term would cause untold harm to small business owners and workers throughout the state, and the worst effects would be felt by rural communities like those I represent.

“Under the current law that is set to take effect late next month, government mandates on paid leave time would be raised to completely unsustainable rates, forcing employers in my district to either attempt to spend unbudgeted, exorbitant amounts of money or make decisions unfair to their employees. I wholeheartedly support our plan to fix this wage crisis and am encouraged by how fast we’re acting to provide a real solution.”