Mississippi Republicans Would Prohibit Towns From Establishing A Minimum Wage

[DonViejo]

Source: ThinkProgress


By Josh Israel posted from ThinkProgress Economy on Feb 27, 2013 at 10:43 am

As President Obama pushes to increase the national minimum wage, Mississippi Republicans are digging in their heels to prevent any similar efforts in the Hospitality State. A bill working its way through the Republican-controlled Mississippi legislature aims to ensure that no local government enacts a mandatory minimum wage or other worker protections. Mississippi has no statewide minimum wage whatsoever (so it follows the national minimum wage).

The 2012 national Republican platform made clear that the party believes in local decision-making. Endorsing the notion of “solving local and State problems through local and State innovations,” the GOP pledged to “restore the proper balance between the federal government and the governments closest to, and most reflective of, the American people.”

But the idea that local governments might pass legislation to guarantee workers a livable hourly wage scares legislators like State Rep. Jerry R. Turner (R). His proposal, House Bill 141, mandates:

No county, board of supervisors of a county, municipality or governing authority of a municipality is authorized to establish a mandatory, minimum living wage rate, minimum number of vacation or sick days, whether paid or unpaid, that would regulate how a private employer pays its employees.


Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/02/27/1644821/mississippi-republicans-would-prohibit-towns-from-establishing-a-minimum-wage/

[blueclown]

1. This is scary Lochner era stuff...

Wow.

[sakabatou]

2. MS keeps on moving backwards.

[alp227]

7. I guess that recent ratification of the 13th amendment was just for show! n/t

[dbackjon]

3. Typical Republican BS

Arizona does this a lot - the Pukes are trying to consolidate power at the state level, at the expense of local governments.

[leftyohiolib]

4. localize control. makes things easier

[Ezlivin]

5. Cut all federal funds going to Mississippi

It seems like the populace needs to be awakened from their conservative slumber.

[Iliyah]

6. Hello to

the 1900. . .

[xxqqqzme]

8. Still pissed off about

that Emancipation thing I see.

[SwankyXomb]

9. This is the equivalent of Congress

passing a bill prohibiting states having a higher minimum wage than the federal one.
Don't these Repulses start screaming "States rights" when things like that happen, or
is it only when they don't get their way?

[JRLeft]

10. I am sorry but it is time that the majority of white

Southerners stop voting Republican.

[SansACause]

11. living in the bubble

Because, y'know, there's no way the cost of living along the coast could ever possibly be higher than that in Tupelo, right?

[Posteritatis]

12. "..or other worker protections." Good lord. (nt)

[Brigid]

13. You know what we say in IN?

Thank God for Mississippi.