A coalition of businesses moved Wednesday to block legislation that would raise the Madison minimum wage, citing concerns that the measure would hurt the Wisconsin economy. The legislation received unilateral approval from the city and stipulates an increase in the minimum wage to $7.75 by Jan. 1, 2008.
Although the proposal is in court and receiving opposition from Republicans in the state Legislature, local government officials remain optimistic.
\We have every expectation that we are going to prevail,"" Ald. Austin King, District 8, said. ""We have really solid legal footing that we're on.""
King highlighted the fact that the coalition's request for an injunction in January was dismissed by Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi, who intimated that the block was not likely to succeed. King also noted that local support for the wage raise is large.
""Pretty much the whole city has been behind it, including the mayor,"" King said. ""We have a lot of allies in local government but also many at the state level.""
Republican lawmakers, however, have proposed legislation that would prohibit any city from raising its minimum wage, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. They are predicted to come to a compromise with Gov. Jim Doyle and raise the entire state minimum wage to $6.50.
""That's an assault on home rule,"" King said of the compromise. ""It sells out the authority of cities to ever raise the minimum wage again. ... That deal is awful to working people, it's an insult, and we're going to fight it.\
