Local governments in Indiana would no longer be able to set their minimum wage higher than the state level under a bill passed by the Indiana House Wednesday.
Opponents of the bill say counties, cities and towns should be able to make the decision on local minimum wage. Muncie Representative Dennis Tyler said it is simply a bad bill.
"Again," he said, "we're telling local units of government they don't have enough sense to set the standards for their own community."
Indianapolis Representative Mike Speedy, the bill's author, said the minimum wage set by a local unit of government could affect people outside of that city or town, and so the state needs to make that decision.
Lizton Representative Jeff Thompson said higher minimum wages could lead to unemployment.
"I'm a fan of having people employed," he said. "I want them to work. There's a big advantage to having someone employed. And this is the kind of bill that keeps people employed."
The bill now moves to the Senate.