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MI appeals court hears minimum wage, sick leave “adopt and amend” cases

The state appeals court will decide whether the Michigan Legislature exceeded its powers when it made sweeping changes to a pair of petition initiatives. A three-judge panel heard arguments in the case today.

No matter what the appeals court decides, these cases will almost certainly wind up before the Michigan Supreme Court.

The challenge is to the Legislature’s action in 2018 to adopt a pair of petition initiatives to raise the state’s minimum wage to 12 dollars an hour and to require employers to let workers accrue paid sick leave. That kept the questions from going to the ballot. But then, the Republican-led Legislature amended the laws to blunt their effects and make them more business-friendly. Attorney Mark Brewer said that violated the state constitution and the wishes of people who never had a chance to vote on the questions.

“The Legislature adopted it only to gut it.”

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