Individual cities that choose to raise their minimum wage would lose that right if the state approves a proposed Senate bill that would generate a uniform minimum wage across Wisconsin.
The Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform met Wednesday in the Capitol to hear testimony from President of the State Senate Alan Lasee, R-De Pere, and citizens of Wisconsin regarding a proposed Senate bill that would establish a uniform minimum wage across the state of Wisconsin.
Lasee proposed the bill along with Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center.
Lasee said he does not want a hodgepodge across the state over the minimum wage standard.
Gov. Doyle vetoed a similar bill in March 2004, and a similar rendition of the bill is sitting idle in a senate committee.
\It appeared to me things were not moving in a direction that they needed to,"" Lasee said of proposing his version of the bill.
Lasee also said that without a uniform stability of minimum wage, businesses might choose to locate in states other than Wisconsin.
Sen. Robert Wirch, D-Pleasant Prairie, disagreed with the testimony Lasee presented.
""The best government is the government closest to the people,"" he said. ""In this case, local government should make the decision.""
Lasee disagreed with Wirch's comments and said the local control was out of control. He added the preemption of minimum wage would put an end to other levels of government getting in on the act.
Ald. Austin King, District 8, was also opposed to the bill.
He said the bill is pointless, and that after passing through the state Legislature, Doyle will simply veto it.
""We don't appreciate you overturning the decision we made at the local level,"" King told the committee, adding that his constituents should be able to respond to their own local realities.
Mario Mendoza, legislative liaison for Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz agreed with King, saying the minimum wage has lagged for too long. He also said it is dependent on the cost of living for a specific area.
Rural areas of Wisconsin do not require as high a minimum wage as cities such as Madison and Milwaukee, where the cost of living is higher, according to King.
The committee voted 3-2 to send the bill on to the Senate, where it will be debated Tuesday.
