The issue of minimum wages was all over the lot this past week with the Supreme Court in Missouri ruling that the state local wage preemption bill doesn’t affect a wage bill in St. Louis, restoring the city’s minimum wage ordinance.  The St. Louis ordinance was passed just hours before the state preemption bill became law and hence, was grandfathered by the court. As a result, minimum wage workers in St. Louis will see their current $7.65 minimum wage increase to $10 this year and to $11 in 2018. Baltimore officials continue to dance with the idea of establishing a city minimum of $15 an hour, despite city finance officials claiming the increase will cost the city $115 million and hundreds of jobs, if not more. The issue has been contentious over the past year or so as councilors have tried to reach a compromise that would be acceptable to all parties, including Mayor Catherine Pugh who is concerned over the impact such an increase would have on small businesses. Out in Michigan, state senator Coleman Young II has filed a bill increasing the state minimum to $15 effective 2018. Currently, the minimum is $8.90 with an automatic hike to $9.25 scheduled to take effect next year. Young is an announced candidate for Mayor of Detroit, but we’re sure the wage hike is all about good economics and not politically motivated! Young’s father was Detroit Mayor from 1974 to 1994, arguably presiding over the demise of a healthy Detroit. In an effort to clarify the applicability of wage and other state employment laws, the Montana House is considering a bill that would exempt full-time seasonal employees from wage and overtime rules.  House 496 seeks to clarify current law which provides that employers must pay time and a half overtime to all employees including seasonal workers.