MI Minimum Wage Could Increase To $12 After Judge Strikes Down 2018 GOP Amendments

MICHIGAN — A Tuesday ruling by a Michigan Court of Claims judge could potentially raise Michigan's minimum wage to $12 per hour and require paid sick leave.

Michigan Court of Claims Judge Douglas Shapiro said the Republican-controlled legislature violated the state's constitution in 2018 when it adopted and amended two voter initiatives that were headed to the ballot.

Although Michigan law says the legislature can adopt a ballot proposal before it goes to the voters, lawmakers cannot change the initiative in the same legislative session, which is what they did in 2018.

In 2018, the Michigan One Fair Wage petition was headed to the ballot on Nov. 6. The proposal would have increased the state's minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2022, a steady increase from $9.25 over a four-year span.

However, Republican lawmakers adopted the measure in September and slowed the $12 per hour increase until 2030.

During that same legislative session, Republican lawmakers also adopted the MI Time to Care petition, which would have required all employers to pay sick leave. The proposal would have forced employers with fewer than ten employees to allow workers to accumulate up to 40 hours of paid sick time per year, while those with more than ten employees would get up to 72 hours of paid sick leave.

Republican lawmakers also changed that proposal to exclude employers with fewer than 50 workers from paying sick leave.

"The initiated law process is intended as a tool for the people," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. "The actions undertaken by the legislature in 2018 denied the will of the people and distorted the purpose of Michigan’s citizens initiative process."

Although Shapiro weakened the Republican-led amendments to both proposals, don't expect the original petitions to go into effect immediately, as the case will surely reach the Michigan Supreme Court once appeals are filed from across the state.