Michigan lawmakers voted today to keep two measures off the November ballot. One to increase the state’s minimum wage, another to require that employees get earned sick time.
The Legislature had the option to pass the measures instead of sending them to voters – and it did.
But supporters of the proposals wanted the measures to go to the ballot. That’s because now the Legislature can amend the laws with a simple majority.
Senator Jim Ananich is the leader of the Senate Democrats. They voted against the measures – even though they support the policies.
“It’s difficult, there’s no question about it. And if I thought they were actually going to raise people’s wages and actually get people paid sick leave, I would be the most strongest champion ever. But when it’s a scam on the voters I have a problem with that, and it’s a scam on workers all across the state.”
Supporters of the proposals are worried the Republican led Legislature will now deflate the measures.
Groups in favor of the ballot proposals are concerned the Legislature will adopt the proposals – only to effectively gut them later with amendments. Because the Legislature passed the measures instead of the voters – it will only take a simple majority to make changes to the measures later.
Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof says the plan isn’t to “gut” the proposals.
“But we’re looking at all the things that would continue Michigan to be on the economic growth path. And some of these things are prohibitive.”
Business groups have advocated against the measures saying they’ll hurt the economy. An attorney for the group behind the minimum wage proposal says the group will sue if the Legislature weakens the proposal later this year.