Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
MPR News Staff

Court: $15 minimum wage, insurance for cops won't appear on Minneapolis ballot

Supreme Court minimum wage hearing
Charles Nauen, center, the city's attorney on the wage case, finishes addressing the Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday. On the right is Bruce Nestor, the attorney representing wage-hike supporters.
Glen Stubbe | Star Tribune via AP

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Updated: 5:25 p.m. | Posted: 3:24 p.m.

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that two proposed Minneapolis charter amendments won't be on the ballot this fall.

One ballot question proposed setting a city-wide $15-an-hour minimum wage and the other would mandate that police officers carry professional liability insurance.

Supporters of the higher minimum wage had won a lower court order putting the question to voters in November. The city appealed and the justices reversed the Hennepin County ruling.

The Supreme Court order says the city council has the sole legislative authority in Minneapolis, and the wage measure isn't eligible to be decided by voters.

Ginger Jentzen, who leads the group 15 Now Minnesota, says her polling shows most Minneapolis residents support raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

"Moving forward, we're still going to run one of the biggest grassroots campaigns the city has ever seen," Jentzen said, "but orienting to get the Minneapolis City Council to pass [it] as an ordinance instead."

In the other case, critics of Minneapolis police wanted officers to carry liability insurance, in part hoping that payouts for misconduct would force out some officers by raising their premiums. But the Supreme Court said that state laws involving police liability and public employees preempt the proposed charter amendment.

Dave Bicking, a member of the Committee for Professional Policing, said the group is prepared to keep fighting in the courts to give voters the chance to weigh in on their initiative.

"We are still absolutely behind this idea. We still have absolute confidence that it is legal in every respect," he said. "There is no conflict with state law."

Bicking says his group and others are exploring further legal actions, though whatever they do won't get the police insurance question on the ballot this fall.

Minneapolis city attorney Susan Segal said she was pleased the Supreme Court supported her office's rationale for rejecting both ballot questions.

Segal said her office will continue to advise the council as it explores raising the minimum wage. Even though the council voted down the minimum wage charter amendment, many members expressed support for boosting base wages in the city.