The New York Times reports that, facing local regualtions, many industries are turning to state capitols to try to block the local laws from taking effect.
“In the last two years, eight Republican-dominated states, most recently Alabama and Oklahoma, have prevented cities from enacting paid sick leave for workers, and a new law in Arkansas forbids municipalities to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination.
“Already this year, bills introduced in six more states, including Michigan, Missouri and South Carolina, seek to do the same. At least five states have pre-empted local regulation of e-cigarettes. And in New Mexico, the restaurant industry supports a modest increase to the minimum wage only if the state stops cities from mandating higher minimums.”
In California, we’ve seen the issue play out over the use of single-use plastic bags, but with a minor California twist. In that case, a business-environmental led by the California Grocers Assn. is pushing for statewide rules to bring consistency to the patchwork local regulations that have passed in more than 100 California localities.
You can read the full New York Times story here