Advocates and opponents have been battling over minimum wage increases for the past couple of years as some states and local communities mandate increases while other state pre-empt their local government entities from passing their own wage thresholds.  Now, in the wake of Alabama prohibiting the establishment of local minimums, advocates have filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that the Alabama pre-emption (known as HB 174) was the result of “racial animus” and therefore violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.  The suit challenges the state’s authority because racial discrimination was prevalent at the time the Alabama Constitution was adopted back in 1901 “and HB 174 disproportionately impacts African Americans who live and work in the City of Birmingham.”  In addition, because the legislation passed the Republican-controlled legislature – via unusual procedures – and was signed by the Governor in less than two weeks in order to take effect before Birmingham’s raise, it was racially discriminatory.  Hmmmm, unusual procedures?  Like how Obama Care made it through Congress?