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Dozens gathered in Mountain Brook Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015, to protest a bill by state Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, that would block a minimum wage increase approved by the Birmingham City Council. (file photo)

Napoleon Bracy

Kevin McCabe, a restaurant owner, is concerned that any hike in the minimum wage will lead to an overall increase in doing business.

"Even though I pay my employees more than the minimum wage, an increase would affect everybody," said McCabe, owner of The Royal Street Cafe in downtown Mobile. "Businesses that provide services to restaurants to paper companies would have to go up on their prices for products."

But for state Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard, and proponents of a minimum wage increase in Alabama, an increase would help eliminate some of the taxpayers' costs on food and medical programs for the poor.

Bracy said this week he plans on introducing legislation this session increasing the minimum wage in Mobile County from the current federal mandate of $7.25 an hour to $10.10. The Birmingham City Council approved a similar increase last year.

Bracy's legislation comes at the same time other lawmakers are pushing for statewide increases.

State Rep. Darrio Melton, D-Selma, said he plans on pushing forward two proposals to hike the minimum wage, one which sets it at $10.10 an hour with subsequent cost of living wage hikes. The other proposal ties Alabama's minimum wage with the federal level, but includes adjustments for cost of living increases.

Melton said his proposals would amend the Alabama Constitution, which would give voters a chance to weigh in.

"It's our hope the legislature would take this issue seriously and once and for all, establish a minimum wage across the board," Melton said. "One of the complaints we've heard from the legislature is they don't want different cities and counties (with different minimum wages). That's why the legislature needs to take an effort to establish a minimum wage."

'A different approach'

Bracy, though, said he wants Mobile County to take a lead.

His proposal comes at a time when lawmakers are hearing more support for an increase, especially from fast-food workers. He pointed to a rally held this week outside the statehouse in Montgomery as an illustration of why the minimum wage needs to be increased.

"I wanted to take a different approach to see if our area in Mobile County can lead the charge in increasing the minimum wage in the state," Bracy said.

The plan faces opposition.

State Sen. Rusty Glover, R-Semmes, said he sees "no chance" of Bracy's proposal advancing.

"I just don't think we would be considered business friendly to do that," Glover said. "The small business folks would be absolutely opposed to increases in the minimum wage. They are firmly against it."

Rosemary Elebash, the Alabama director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said any plan boosting the minimum wage in Mobile County only would be a boon for neighboring counties.

"You all have had such an outward movement to Baldwin County that if (Mobile County) puts itself at an economic disadvantage, then a franchise or a new business more likely will open in a place where the cost of doing business is more expensive than it is across the Bay," she said.

'Holding citizens hostage'

Alabama is one of only five states that have not adopted a minimum wage above the federal standard. The others are Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana and Tennessee.

Fourteen states began 2016 with higher minimum wages and, of those, 12 states increased rates through legislation passed in 2014 or 2015. Eleven states currently tie increases to the cost of living.

Darrio Melto

Melton blames the Republicans for the inaction in Alabama.

"The legislature is holding the citizens of Alabama hostage because of their views on the minimum wage," he said.

The current minimum wage, though, might be more valuable in Alabama than the increased minimum wage in some other states.

An AL.com analysis last year showed that, even after adjusted for cost of living, the $7.25 hourly minimum wage is worth more in Alabama than the $9 minimum wage in California. The analysis also shows that Alabama's minimum wage stretches further than the minimum in New York, Hawaii and other states that are above the $7.25 threshold.

Some cities across the U.S. are taking steps to keep increasing the minimum wage. Los Angeles and Seattle, for instance, have both adopted minimum wages of $15 an hour.

In Alabama, the city of Birmingham and the University of Alabama-Birmingham have taken the lead. UAB, the state's largest employer, will raise its minimum wage to $11 an hour in March.

The increases came despite an effort by state Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, to prevent cities and counties from setting minimum wages for private employers. His proposal, debate in the House during September's second special session, was set aside without a vote.

"In the areas where the wage has gone up, it's not diminished the economy," Melton said. "I'm hoping there is an appetite for this conversation."

Bren Riley, president of the AFL-CIO in Alabama, said an increase would help Alabama reduce dependency on government assistance.

"We have seen statistics that show that if the minimum wage was raised, so many people would come off the rolls of the (food stamp) program," Riley said. "You're going to pay one way or the other. You may have to pay more for your Starbucks coffee, but maybe your tax dollars can go now toward building a new bridge in Mobile versus Medicaid because folks can make a little more money and can afford more insurance."