LANSING — Today, the House of Representatives voted on two ballot proposals initiated by citizens circulating petitions to enact mandatory earned paid sick leave for all employees and to increase the state’s minimum wage. The proposals passed and will become law. In response, state Rep. Bill Sowerby (D-Clinton Township) issued the following statement:
“I support legislation to raise the minimum wage and to allow workers to earn paid sick leave, and I also believe we should allow voters to participate in our democracy through ballot initiatives. I voted no today because I believe this was a disingenuous and deceptive effort by the Republican majority to come back and gut or weaken this legislation at a later date. This move is nothing more than an effort to obstruct voter participation.”