Ditch sick-leave law scare tactics

THE RECENT (Nov. 6) letter by Albuquerque Republican Rep. Bill Rehm headlined “A $5.60 soda shows cost of sick-leave law” demonstrates how low the bar is set in New Mexico for political discourse. Apparently, Rehm is still upset that the margin of defeat for the recent Albuquerque sick leave proposal wasn’t greater, so he feels compelled to twist any storyline he can to advance his personal view. Although facts aren’t necessarily required in an “opinion” column, one would think an elected representative would aim higher.

His whining example of paying up to $5.60 for a Coke during a recent trip to Washington state may not be a direct result of Seattle’s minimum wage and sick leave mandates. Where exactly did he encounter such a price? Did he actually have a vendor explain the cost as a result of the mandates? Was the hotel he stayed at with the $5 Coke in the refrigerator so far removed from a nearby grocery store that Rehm was essentially “forced” into such tough choices in paying for his daily sugar high? Should we feel badly for the nearby Tacoma business owners, who hadn’t been able to figure a way to keep quality employees from leaving for better paying jobs, with at least some minimal benefits? Does Rehm really think that the moves to automation and electronic “kiosks” are fueled only by the impact of minimum wage and benefit laws?

The recent local sick leave ballot initiative wasn’t perfect, yet the intent of such an ordinance deserves honest and worthwhile discussion based on facts and solid economic research — not the questionable scare tactics generated by a representative’s personal travel log. We deserve a better effort from our elected officials in terms of adding genuine insight into such matters, not the tread-worn talking points of a political party. TIM EBBEN Albuquerque