$15-an-hour minimum wage prohibited by lawmakers

COLUMBUS - Whether cities such as Cincinnati can set their own $15-an-hour minimum wages now depends on Gov. John Kasich.

Ohio lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill backed by Republicans that would bar voters in Cincinnati and elsewhere from setting their own minimum wage. If signed by Kasich, no city could set a higher minimum wage than the state's rate, which will be $8.15-an-hour next year.

That would block Cincinnatians for a Strong Economy from putting a $15-an-hour minimum wage on the fall 2017 ballot. Organizer Evan Hennessy was disappointed by the state lawmakers' move, which came after Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine concluded that allowing each city to set their own minimum wages would violate the state constitution.

With his ballot initiative likely foiled, Hennessy has a new plan: "We need to come together and get a state constitutional amendment to raise minimum wage and control our own destinies," he told The Enquirer Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/blogs/2016/12/07/house-prohibits-15--hour-minimum-wage/95101952/