New Report Explores Abuse of Preemption by Midwest Legislatures

A new report from the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN) at EPI and LSSC highlights how state lawmakers in the Midwest have abused preemption to impede progress on a variety of issues that would improve the economic security and well-being of residents. 

The report, Preempting Progress in the Heartland, includes multiple case studies from states where preemption has been used by majority-white and GOP-controlled legislatures to interfere with local policies that would support BIPOC, women, immigrants, and workers in low-wage industries.  

The case studies examine minimum wage preemption in St. Louis, Kansas City, and a number of counties across Iowa; preemption of fair scheduling policies in Detroit; paid sick leave in Indianapolis; and collective bargaining in Chicago; among other examples. 

The report is the second in a series examining how preemption is used to uphold racist and inequitable structures. The first report, Preempting Progress in the South, was released by EARN and LSSC last year.