Senators in the Republican caucus have concerns about a proposed a bill that would eliminate living wages in Madison and Milwaukee, according to a Thursday statement from state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau.
The bill limits local living wage ordinances that intend to establish pay high enough for employees, including local contractors and government workers, to support themselves.
Local ordinances could stay in place as long as workers are not paid with state money.
“At this point, it is unlikely that [the bill] will move through the Senate,” Fitzgerald said in the statement.
The living wage bill, introduced by Rep. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, passed a Senate committee Thursday 3-2.
Protesters interrupted the meeting at the Capitol by dumping shoes on the table and chanting “walk in our shoes,” according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Madison and Milwaukee officials said the wage law is important because it allows workers to live and work in more costly areas, which boosts the local economy.
