JEFFERSON CITY — The St. Louis City minimum wage law won’t go into effect this week as planned. St. Louis Judge Steven Ohmer handed down his decision today saying the ordinance is void and St. Louis is permanently restrained from implementing or enforcing the ordinance.

Senate Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, said he was pleased with the judge’s decision and said municipalities independently raising the minimum wage directly conflicts with laws already in place in the state. 

“We have laws on the books for a reason, and this was an obvious overreach of power by the city,” said Richard, “Having municipalities unilaterally raising the minimum wage would create a great deal of uncertainty for businesses, particularly small businesses, would make our state look less attractive to potential businesses, and hamper much needed job growth.” 

Majority Floor Leader Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, said the judge’s ruling is in line with what the Legislature did earlier this year in passing legislation that reaffirms current law and prevents municipalities from enacting a minimum wage in excess of the state’s minimum wage. Sen. Kehoe handled that legislation, House Bill 722, in which the Legislature recently overrode the governor’s veto.  

“Businesses shouldn’t have to compete with different rules in different municipalities,” said Kehoe. “We need to keep the playing field level and provide certainty for businesses across the state. Companies have every right to pay employees more than the minimum wage, but they need to have certainty they can continue to do business in Missouri.” 

In August, the St. Louis Board of Alderman voted to raise the minimum wage in the city to $11 by 2018. Kansas City also attempted but failed to raise the city’s minimum wage.