Madison wins round one on minimum wage.

Judge agreed that the local lawmakers have a right to protect their citizens,and this includes fair wages.Score one for the good guys.

Now how about the rest of working poor in this used-to-be great nation?

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=37113&ntpid=3
Judge sides with city on wage law
4/22/05
Ed Treleven Wisconsin State Journal

The city of Madison has won another round in its effort to raise the minimum wage, but Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said that with state legislation on the horizon, the fight isn't over.

Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi on Thursday upheld Madison's ordinance increasing the minimum wage for workers in the city to $5.70 per hour, writing in her decision that there is nothing in state statutes that prevents municipalities from doing so.

"No one wants Wisconsin's economic landscape dotted with wage islands," Sumi wrote. "But a municipality's power to enact ordinances for the welfare of its citizens is broad, even in matters of statewide concern."

"We're obviously very pleased by the court's decision today," Cieslewicz said Thursday. "But we're also very pleased that Madison has led the way in leveraging a higher minimum wage across the state."
<SNIP>