gavel-3

Business Groups Applaud MI Supreme Court Plan for Oral Arguments on Wages

gavel-3

Advocacy groups who represent businesses large and small are ecstatic over the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision to hear oral arguments regarding the constitutionality of the state’s minimum wage and paid sick time laws, especially in light of the fact that they were changed by the Michigan Legislature after earlier adoption by that same group. Everyone wants clarity.

The Michigan Supreme Court agreed at mid-week to hear those arguments on the constitutionality of the move after the Legislature itself asked for an advisory opinion over what they had done late last year in lame duck session.

Small Business Association of Michigan President Brian Calley has praised the decision saying, “We are thankful that the court has agreed to take up the question as to the constitutionality of PA 368 and PA 369 of 2018.” The former Lt. Governor adds, “While we are confident that both public acts were passed in accordance with the authority vested in the legislature by the constitution, the Supreme Court has the opportunity to improve the jobs climate by removing any uncertainty. Further, this acceptance by the Supreme Court would seemly rule out the possibility of an intervening AG (Attorney General) opinion in the meantime, which Michigan’s small businesses will greatly appreciate.”

The Small Business Association of Michigan focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan’s small business community through advocacy, collaboration and buying power, serving over 26,000 members in all 83 counties of Michigan. SBAM is located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol.

ADVERTISEMENT
Your content continues below

Also commenting on the court’s consideration is Dr. Alicia Renee Farris, state director of Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan and Chair of the Michigan One Fair Wage steering committee. Dr. Farris says, “We are pleased the Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to consider issuing an opinion about this very important issue that is central to our democracy and the rule of law,” and adds, “We are hopeful the Michigan Supreme Court will stand with Michigan workers and the more than 400,000 Michigan voters who signed the One Fair Wage petition and approved raising the minimum wage to $12 for all Michigan workers.”

Exactly when the high court will take up the issue remains in the air, although the court did direct interested parties to file their legal briefs ahead of oral arguments currently slated for July 17th.

Ironically, the controversy is deepened thanks to last week’s implementation of the new minimum wage and paid sick leave laws which were changed in December and signed by Michigan’s then Governor Rick Snyder. The laws took effect even with the legal reviews being undertaken.

The core argument at hand stems from the Republican-led Legislature’s decision to pass the issue to avoid petitioned verbage appearing on the fall ballot only to, as some characterized the change, “gut it” by making amendments late in the lame duck session. Democrats have long argued that it is unconstitutional for a legislature to adopt and later “gut” such an issue in the same two-year session.