Minnesota Supreme Court blocks $15 minimum wage, police insurance from Minneapolis' ballot

Minneapolis voters will not weigh in this November on whether the city should raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour, following a ruling issued Wednesday by the state’s highest court.

In a unanimous order released a day after it heard the case, the Minnesota Supreme Court sided with the city of Minneapolis, which had argued that a proposal to raise the wage was not a proper subject for an amendment to the city’s charter. The court also ruled in the city’s favor on a separate charter amendment case, in which a police-accountability group sought to let voters decide whether to require police officers to carry professional liability insurance.

The ruling is a blow to advocates for both issues who didn’t feel like they were being heard by the City Council and instead wanted to take their case to voters. The high court’s decision means advocates for these issues are now forced to resume negotiations with council members and the mayor.

http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-supreme-court-sides-with-minneapolis-in-wage-police-insurance-cases/391919771/