by Anthony Gad, Director of Research at State Innovation Exchange (SiX)
One tactic that corporate special interests have used to halt economic reforms supportive of working families is state preemption of local government laws. State legislators, often working with outside groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), use the power of state preemption to silence the voices of marginalized communities and prevent local democracies from following the will of its people. For example, a concerted and well-funded effort by corporate special interests to suppress wages has been pushed by groups like ALEC, which has model laws to preempt minimum wage, living wage, and prevailing wage. And this is partly why at least half of the states now preempt local minimum wage ordinances, which disproportionately impact women and people of color. This economic suppression of marginalized communities is exacerbated by preemption of wage protection, paid sick leave, fair scheduling, equal pay, and affordable housing laws.
Yale State and Local Policy Review 
Leave a Reply