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Omaha city leaders are preparing to consider an ordinance that would separate the city’s minimum wage from new statewide restrictions approved by Nebraska lawmakers earlier this year, mirroring a move recently adopted in Lincoln to restore voter-approved wage rules. “I support what Lincoln did,” Omaha City Council President Danny Begley said. “And I’m looking forward to bringing that into the city of Omaha for discussion and hoping we get the votes to pass it, because the voters spoke, crystal clearly.”Begley said he went to the city’s law department earlier this month to draft the ordinance, and he said it’s still in the drafting process.The move follows a 6-1 vote by the Lincoln City Council approving an ordinance introduced by Councilman James Michael Bowers. The measure sought to counter provisions of LB258, a bill sponsored by state Sen. Jane Raybould and passed by the Nebraska Legislature this year.That law created a separate, lower minimum wage for 14- and 15-year-old workers and changed annual wage increases from an inflation-based formula to a hard cap at 1.75% per year.Raybould defended the legislation in an interview with KETV earlier this month, arguing that rising labor costs place additional pressure on businesses and families.“Both parents work outside the home, and they’re struggling to pay for childcare,” Raybould said. “Any labor increases have to be passed onto those families.”Bowers said Lincoln’s ordinance was intended to uphold the will of voters, who approved a statewide minimum wage increase through a ballot initiative in 2022 by about 59%.“It’s bizarre to me that we are only going to trust voters when they give us power and they put us into office,” Bowers said.Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has criticized Lincoln’s ordinance and disputed its legality in a formal opinion. The city’s ordinance is scheduled to start taking effect July 18, with the inflation-based percentage set later in the year.Hilgers, in a roundtable discussion with journalists on Thursday, said he believes municipalities cannot exceed the state’s minimum wage standards despite Nebraska’s home rule provisions and suggested the ordinance could face a legal challenge. “I will say this as a private citizen, I would be surprised if Lincoln’s what I believe is clearly an unlawful city ordinance, which impacts and maybe threatens the livelihoods of small businesses within the city limits, if that is not subject to litigation,” Hilgers said.Hilgers emphasized what he said was the legitimate role of the Nebraska Legislature in shaping issues brought via the ballot. He said that’s important for maintaining a system of checks and balances.Bowers said Lincoln’s actions are well within the law.“The attorney general’s legal opinion is just that. It’s an opinion,” Bowers said.The Omaha City Council is expected to take up the issue June 2.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Omaha city leaders are preparing to consider an ordinance that would separate the city’s minimum wage from new statewide restrictions approved by Nebraska lawmakers earlier this year, mirroring a move recently adopted in Lincoln to restore voter-approved wage rules.
“I support what Lincoln did,” Omaha City Council President Danny Begley said. “And I’m looking forward to bringing that into the city of Omaha for discussion and hoping we get the votes to pass it, because the voters spoke, crystal clearly.”
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Begley said he went to the city’s law department earlier this month to draft the ordinance, and he said it’s still in the drafting process.
The move follows a 6-1 vote by the Lincoln City Council approving an ordinance introduced by Councilman James Michael Bowers. The measure sought to counter provisions of LB258, a bill sponsored by state Sen. Jane Raybould and passed by the Nebraska Legislature this year.
That law created a separate, lower minimum wage for 14- and 15-year-old workers and changed annual wage increases from an inflation-based formula to a hard cap at 1.75% per year.
Raybould defended the legislation in an interview with KETV earlier this month, arguing that rising labor costs place additional pressure on businesses and families.
“Both parents work outside the home, and they’re struggling to pay for childcare,” Raybould said. “Any labor increases have to be passed onto those families.”
Bowers said Lincoln’s ordinance was intended to uphold the will of voters, who approved a statewide minimum wage increase through a ballot initiative in 2022 by about 59%.
“It’s bizarre to me that we are only going to trust voters when they give us power and they put us into office,” Bowers said.
Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has criticized Lincoln’s ordinance and disputed its legality in a formal opinion. The city’s ordinance is scheduled to start taking effect July 18, with the inflation-based percentage set later in the year.
Hilgers, in a roundtable discussion with journalists on Thursday, said he believes municipalities cannot exceed the state’s minimum wage standards despite Nebraska’s home rule provisions and suggested the ordinance could face a legal challenge.
“I will say this as a private citizen, I would be surprised if Lincoln’s what I believe is clearly an unlawful city ordinance, which impacts and maybe threatens the livelihoods of small businesses within the city limits, if that is not subject to litigation,” Hilgers said.
Hilgers emphasized what he said was the legitimate role of the Nebraska Legislature in shaping issues brought via the ballot. He said that’s important for maintaining a system of checks and balances.
Bowers said Lincoln’s actions are well within the law.
“The attorney general’s legal opinion is just that. It’s an opinion,” Bowers said.
The Omaha City Council is expected to take up the issue June 2.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
