Gov. John Kasich signs bill blocking Cleveland's $15 minimum wage proposal
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Monday signed legislation blocking next year's special election vote on whether to raise Cleveland's minimum wage to $15 per hour, according to his office.
Senate Bill 331 prohibits communities in the state from raising the minimum wage beyond the state's minimum wage rate, currently set at $8.10 per hour. State lawmakers passed the bill earlier this month at the request of Cleveland city officials and others, who sought to forestall a special election on the wage hike next May.
Raise Up Cleveland, the group sponsoring the proposal with the backing of the Service Employees International Union, had aimed to get a $15-per-hour minimum wage proposal on the Nov. 8 ballot. But Cleveland City Council held months of contentious hearings on the proposal, and the issue narrowly missed the ballot deadline, buying city officials and other opponents more time to try to quash the measure.
City Council President Kevin Kelley has said the proposal, if passed, would undermine the city's economic recovery.
Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2016/12/gov_john_kasich_signs_bill_blo.html