Amid his many words of encouragement and hope for Wisconsin's economic future in his State of the State Address, Governor Jim Doyle challenged state legislators to vote on proposals advocating an increased minimum wage.
According to Press Secretary Melanie Fonder, the governor's Minimum Wage Advisory Council, a bipartisan taskforce comprised of both labor and business leaders, approved an increase in the minimum wage, from $5.15 to $6.50 over two years. However, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules blocked the initiative.
Republican Caucus Secretary and State Rep. Carol Owens, R-Oshkosh, expressed concern over the size of the augmentation and feared jobs would become less available. In addition, Owens questioned the increases' effectiveness in assisting low income individuals.
\Those are not the jobs that provide [income for] the breadwinners of the family,"" Owens commented, adding she believes no one is expected to support a family on a minimum wage.
In contrast to Owens, State Rep. Louis Molepske, D-Stevens Point, said he agrees with increases in the minimum wage as recommended by the advisory council.
""I'd like to get to the issue as soon as possible, so that court and local issues can get resolved for the benefit of the entire state of Wisconsin,"" Molepske said. ""I think the business industry in general is in support of this measure, and the time is ripe for this to occur.""
State and local Democrats are divided as to whether minimum wage increases should be enacted statewide or if municipalities must handle the issue. State Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, recently proposed legislation which would enforce a $6.50 an hour minimum wage across the state.
The proposal itself contains pre-emptive clauses that, while bolstering the minimum wage of many communities, would force others with their own legislation, like Madison, to adhere to a statewide mandate. Jauch argued the pre-emptive character would be crucial in reducing inequity within Wisconsin.
""It's a reluctant position, and I normally don't believe in pre-emption ... but I don't believe economic security should be a product of geography,"" Jauch said.
??While Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is a proponent of increasing the minimum wage statewide, he will not advocate bills which pre-empt the city's own efforts, according to spokesperson George Twigg.
""We can't rely on the state to do what's right on this issue,"" Twigg said.
Ald. Austin King, District 8, described the proposed increased to $6.50 an hour as ""modest"" and chastised state Republican legislators who he felt have impeded legislative action.
""The only reason it still hasn't been implemented is that Republicans in the state Assembly and Senate are being obstructionist,"" King said.
King was also critical of Jauch's proposed legislation, and offered an alternative solution.
""It's the Republicans that want to take away home rule, and it's disappointing that a Democrat would assign his name in support of that,""
King said, ""The best possible way to raise minimum wage is to index it to inflation-but it robs liberals of a campaign issue and Republicans oppose it on ideological grounds.""
