The Minnesota House late Thursday night after a five-hour debate passed a bill to override ordinances in Minneapolis and Saint Paul that require employers to provide sick leave for employees. The bill also prohibits cities, counties and townships from enacting laws setting the minimum wage higher than the statewide minimum wage, or establishing their own regulations on working hours or other benefits.
Sandy Trudeau from Lino Lakes opposes the legislation:
But bill sponsor, Farmington Republican Pat Garofalo says:
“Employers have stated over and over, more important than taxation is regulatory certainty and labor certainty, and if businesses don’t know the rules they’re gonna be operating under, they’re not gonna grow in Minnesota — they’re not gonna add jobs in Minnesota.”
Governor Mark Dayton opposes the bill, saying it’s effort by businesses to hold down wages in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.