A House panel introduced a bill that preempts cities or counties from passing their own minimum wage laws.
The measure, introduced by Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur D'Alene, ensures political subdivisions in Idaho - cities, counties, etc. - from passing minimum wage laws higher than the state's. It also cleans up language on the state minimum wage, currently sitting around $7.25/hr.
This comes on the heels of a failed voter initiative in Coeur D'Alene to raise the minimum wage as well as increases in Seattle and Los Angeles. In those cities, labor unions successfully fought to raise minimum wages to $15/hr.
