Mobile delegation opposes amendment to allow vote on minimum wage hike

The House Committee on Mobile County Legislation met Wednesday to discuss a slew of local legislation, including HB248 from Rep. Napoleon Bracy (D-Mobile). The constitutional amendment would allow Mobile citizens to vote on whether or not to raise the county’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.

Bracy brought forth the bill in the form of a constitutional amendment in order to skirt around legislation passed earlier this session.

HB174 from Rep. David Faulkner (R-Birmingham), also known as the Alabama Uniform Minimum Wage and Right to Work Act, was filed to thwart efforts by the Birmingham city council to gradually raise that city’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour over three years. After being signed into law by Gov. Robert Bentley, the bill effectively bars in Alabama city or county from raising its minimum wage.

If passed, the amendment would have been voted on by Mobile County voters in the upcoming November election.

At the time of the committee’s vote Wednesday, eight committee members were present. The four representatives who voted against the bill, causing voting to end in a tie and causing the bill to gain an unfavorable report, were Reps. David Sessions (R-Mobile), Victor Gaston (R-Mobile), Margie Wilcox (R-Mobile) and Jack Williams (R-Mobile).

The four Democrats on the committee voted in favor of the measure. Because of its failure to garner a favorable report in the committee hearing, the bill will not be heard by the full House of Representatives.