Mayor Fung Vetoes “Minimum Wage” Ordinance
Cranston, Rhode Island – Mayor Allan Fung has vetoed ordinance 1-16-04 the so called “minimum wage” ordinance that was recently passed by the city council on a narrow 5 to 4 vote with bi-partisan opposition. (note: at the time of the vote City Wide Councilman Michael Farina was a Democrat but he switched party affiliation to Republican two days after this vote was taken)
The Mayor’s veto message was submitted to the City Clerk this afternoon.
“I cannot in good conscience burden the taxpayers with what amounts to nothing more than a poorly thought out election time stunt. This proposed ordinance does not have a proper cost benefit analysis, has no data to support the arbitrary selection of $12.00, $12.50 or the originally proposed $15.00 amount. In essence it is careless fiscal policy that undermines the already established pay scales and replaces them with arbitrary pay scales that do not make any sense.” said Mayor Fung.
The Mayor under the City Charter has the authority to veto said ordinance under Section 3.14. Once the Mayor’s veto is submitted, the ordinance will go back to the city council for a vote for a veto override where they will need a two-thirds vote in the affirmative to enact the ordinance.
