Wisconsin union group shows hypocrisy with SEIU-influenced living wage bill

March 12, 2011: Protesters attend a rally at the Wisconsin Capitol in Madison. (AP)

A political nonprofit funded by a union that helped write a Big Labor-boosting living wage proposal accuses a Wisconsin lawmaker of using the American Legislative Exchange Council’s playbook in drafting an anti-living wage bill.

State Rep. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, author of AB 750, which would negate certain local living wage ordinances, says Wisconsin Jobs Now’s allegations that ALEC influenced him in any way are complete nonsense.

“This has nothing to do with ALEC,” Kapenga told Wisconsin Reporter. “This has to do with making the right choices for the people of Wisconsin.”

Kapenga’s legislation would wipe out any local living wage contracts that use state or federal funds. Municipalities would still be allowed to pay a living wage if they do so with their own tax base.

Kapenga doesn’t think it’s fair that state and federal taxpayers should be subsidizing living wage ordinances outside of their own communities.

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