The race is on for Kansas City to increase the minimum wage before the Missouri state house leaders move to block the effort again.
In a letter to Council on behalf of petitioners, Attorney Clinton Adams makes the case for an ordinance to accomplish the fair wage move . . .
"As you may know, on February 28, 2017 the Missouri Supreme Court issued its opinion upholding the St. Louis, Missouri minimum wage ordinance. In that opinion the Court held that, interalia, Missouri law did not preempt, or preclude cities from enacting their own minimum wage laws.
"In light of that decision we respectfully request that you adopt an ordinance raising the minimum wage as set forth in our proposed ordinance that is scheduled to appear on the August 2017 ballot. We encourage you to act now because we are concerned that the Missouri Legislature is controlled by special interest groups (such as the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Missouri Restaurant Association) that are hostile to efforts requiring employers to pay workers a livable wage. We expect that there will be an effort to pass legislation that would prevent cities from enacting minimum wage laws and that any such statute could take effect prior to the September 1, 2017 effective date of our proposed ordinance (should it be approved in August).
"The previous council approved and subsequently rescinded an ordinance raising the minimum wage to $13.00. Under the circumstances this council should revisit the matter in light of inflation and the cost of living adopt the ordinance proposed by the Committee of Petitioners. An immediate increase to $10.00 an hour with annual increases until it reaches $15.00 an hour in 2022 is an important step in improving the quality of life for so many hardworking residents of our city. Waiting until August may jeaportize this much needed progress.
"Throughout the public discourse of this issue a majority of you have expressed support for raising the minimum wage to a livable wage. Now you have an opportunity to act in accordance with your rhetoric."
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True to form, a fair wage opponent has already filed opposition . . .
Missouri Rep. Dan Shaul HB 1193: "Prohibits political subdivisions from requiring a minimum wage that exceeds the requirements of state law."
To wit . . .
NOW MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONFRONT FAIR WAGE CONFRONTATION FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS AMID A LOOMING DEADLINE!!!
Developing . . .
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