A day after it popped out of the House Commerce and Trade Committee, a bill to stop local government from regulating wages or benefits passed the Michigan House of Representatives on Wednesday in a 57-52 vote.
HB 4052 aims to prevent local Michigan communities from regulating the relationship between employees and employers through measures like establishing a minimum wage higher than the state's or mandating paid sick leave. It's similar to legislation proposed last year that didn't take off during the lame duck session.
"It clarifies existing practice here in Michigan," said Rep. Earl Poleski, R-Jackson.
But the bill's legislative path has been fraught with controversy.
The bill first resulted in outcry when Poleski added a provision locals said would take away non-discrimination ordinances 38 local governments have passed to protect LGBT people. The provision was removed, but progressive activists still oppose what they call the "Death Star" bill because they say it takes away local control.
The bill's supporters say it eliminates the potential for a patchwork of regulations that would complicate the state's business environment.
Democrats in the House today offered numerous amendments, which were shot down, and spoke against the bill.
Rep. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, teared up describing the effects it could have on communities.
"Our residents deserve so much more than this, and today we have the opportunity to do the right thing for them," Chang said.
Democrats including Rep. Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, and Rep. Andy Schor, D-Lansing, said it would take away local control in important areas. Singh questioned whether the bill would prohibit communities from regulating when bars close, for instance.
Having come recently from local government in Southfield, Rep. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, said the bill overstepped local control. Southfield's experiences have proven wage protection and business growth are not opposing values, he said.
"If you're a true supporter of local control you will join me in voting against HB 4052," Moss said.
Rep. Joe Graves, R-Linden, chairs the House Commerce and Trade Committee. He said he had worked with stakeholders to address some of the concerns, and argued claims this applied too broadly were not true. This is about local communities not regulating wages and benefits, he said.
"I respect each one of their roles, but this is not their role. We can't all do each other's work," Graves said.
Some Democrats argued that local governments played valuable roles as the laboratories of Democracy, something Poleski countered was not a good thing.
"Any one of us can find ourselves tossed into the petri dish ... that is concerning. If we're going to have a laboratory of democracy, far better for this House and the Senate down the hall to determine who should be tossed into the petri dish, and how," Poleski said.
The bill passed narrowly, with some Republicans joining Democrats in voting against it. Republicans who voted against it were Rep. John Bizon, R-Battle Creek; Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville; Rep. Martin Howrylak, R-Troy; Rep. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan; and Rep. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake.
It heads now to the Senate for consideration.
