Madison's ability to set its own minimum wage took a hit Wednesday after the state Senate voted to ban local governments from setting independent wage ordinances.
The bill would pre-empt cities from ever increasing their minimum wages beyond the statewide level. Both Madison and Milwaukee have done so this year, and La Crosse is mulling over an increase as well. Madison's minimum wage is currently $6.50 per hour, while the statewide wage is $5.15.
\The pre-emption is bad news,"" said Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, who voted against the legislation. ""It sends a terrible message. Adjusting the minimum wage is good public policy and good economic policy.""
In a party-line 19-14 vote, Senate Republicans passed the proposal on to the Assembly, where it will be debated in May when the Legislature reconvenes. If it passes that house, it will go to Gov. Jim Doyle, who has said he favors setting the minimum wage at the state level. Doyle has advocated increasing Wisconsin's minimum wage to $6.50.
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said he opposes the state's interference into local governments' abilities to determine their own wage ordinances.
""The majority party in the Legislature is always talking about local control,"" Cieslewicz said. ""They like local control until the local government does something that's inconsistent with their ideology.""
Cieslewicz said he would oppose this legislation even if the state also upped the statewide minimum wage to Madison's level, which is set to rise to $7.75 Jan. 1, 2008.
""What's going to happen seven or eight years from now?"" he asked. ""We won't have the ability to leverage a change at the state level if they take this away from us.""
Risser said he is not surprised individual cities are moving ahead with their own ordinances, as the statewide wage has not increased since 1997.
""The state is dragging its heels,"" Risser said.
