1. Plan to Defeat Initiative 101 in the Fall 2016 Colorado Election
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Plan to Defeat Initiative 101
in the Fall 2016 Colorado Election

2. Current Minimum Wage Facts
$8.31/hr
Current Colorado Minimum Wage
In 2006, minimum wage was placed in the Colorado Constitution
Set to increase annually according to inflation – indexed to CPI for Denver/Boulder/Greeley
61% Increase
Colorado Minimum Wage has increased since 2006
(2006=$5.15 to 2016=$8.31)
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3. Proposed Initiative 101
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Only altered via future Constitutional Amendment
INCREASE 44%
Increases Colorado Minimum Wage by 44%
Petitions are being circulated by Colorado Families for a Fair Wage
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4. The answer from labor unions was “NO”
NO Compromise =X
COMPROMISE
The answer from labor unions was “NO”
Proponents said their eventual goal is to see minimum wage at $15/hour.
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5. Initiative 101 Increases $8.31/hr 2016 $10.20/hr 2018 $12.00/hr 2020
2017
$11.10/hr
2019
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6. Why is defeating Initiative 101 important to YOU?
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7. Impacts of Minimum Wage Increase
HURTS SMALL BUSINESS
Small businesses, including family-owned businesses, will be hit the hardest.
They will be forced to:
Cut jobs
Reduce hours
Layoff hourly employees
React to wage compression
SNAPSHOT:
Colorado small businesses dominate the state’s economy
97.6% of CO employers
563,917 locations
991,542 employees
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8. Impacts of Minimum Wage Increase
REDUCED BUYING POWER
Reduced buying power for all Coloradans
One size fits all approach for a diverse state—rural communities are hit disproportionally harder
Does NOT position Colorado as a competitive state
ONE SIZE ≠
FIT ALL
≠ COMPETITIVE
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9. Impacts of Minimum Wage Increase
REAL LIFE EXAMPLE
“Jill”
Small Business Owner in Denver
Restaurant for 30 years
85 employees (avg years)
$30-35/hr servers and $18-22/hr bussers
Initiative 101 will force her to:
lay off 15 employees
raise prices
reduce customer service
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10. Studies on Impact Of Minimum Wage Hikes
500,000 JOBS LOST NATIONALLY AT $10.10/hr
90,000 JOBS LOST IN COLORADO
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11. Massive Job Loss
Initiative 101 would kill 90,000 Colorado jobs by 2022.
90,000 JOBS
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12. Massive Job Loss
Initiative 101 would kill 90,000 Colorado jobs by 2022.
Combined populations of:
Breckenridge
Burlington
Durango
Estes Park
Glenwood Springs
Golden
La Junta
Superior
Trinidad
90,721
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13. in reduced Colorado wages by 2022
Massive Wage Loss
$3.9 BILLION
in reduced Colorado wages by 2022
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14. Impact on Young Workers
MASSIVE LOSS
in entry-level jobs and training opportunities for young workers
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15. Defeating Initiative 101 Conducted research
Developing broad-based coalition
Building financial support to ensure messages saturate among persuadable voters
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16. Research: Overall opinion of measure
Late June 2016
*Asked at beginning of survey*
If the general election was held today and you had to make a choice, would you vote yes, in favor of, or no, against this ballot initiative to increase the minimum wage?
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17. Research: Top “No” Arguments
Late June 2016
Small businesses will be hardest hit
Likely to hurt the very people it is meant to help
Will kill 90,000 Colorado jobs by 2022
One-size-fits-all approach is unreasonable and unfair
Will eliminate entry-level jobs and reduce valuable training opportunities
This measure goes too far

18. Research: Follow-up Opinion
Late June 2016
BEFORE MESSAGING
AFTER MESSAGING
*Asked after arguments
both for and against
the measure*

19. Defeating Unreasonable Minimum Wage Hikes
Colorado as National Forerunner
18 out of 20
Minimum Wage Ballot Initiatives have won
70%
Passed by nearly 70% in Alaska and Illinois in 2014
None of the successful recent minimum wage ballot measures have been as radical as Colorado’s proposal
Colorado can be the first to beat back the unions on minimum wage
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20. We Need Your Help! OFFICIALLY OPPOSE CONTRIBUTE SHARE STORIES
Officially oppose Initiative 101 and the proposed minimum wage increase
Contribute to Keep Colorado Working as an organization, as an individual company, or franchise
Share your stories
OFFICIALLY OPPOSE
CONTRIBUTE
SHARE STORIES
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21. Do you really think it will stop here?
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22. We can and must defeat initiative 101