Senate Passes Bill Blocking Local Control on Minimum Wage

Alabama legislators have passed a bill that prevents cities and municipalities from setting their own minimum wage.

The Alabama Senate on Thursday approved the bill 23 votes to 10, largely along party lines.

GOP legislators supported the bill to push back against the Birmingham City Council, which voted to raise their city’s minimum wage to $10.10.

Republican Sen. Jabo Waggoner of Vestavia Hills says the state should not have a “hodgepodge” of different minimum wages.

Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, a Democrat from Birmingham, says she is concerned about people trying to feed their families on current hourly wages.

The bill will now go to Gov. Robert Bentley for his signature. Bentley’s spokeswoman says his office will do a legal review of the bill.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)