If state and local governments want healthier populations, new findings suggest they should be more aggressive in tackling income inequality. A Nebraska organization feels that approach is on point.
A new study from Johns Hopkins University looked at obesity levels in more than 3,000 counties across the country. The places with minimum wages of at least $9 an hour had greater success in reducing obesity rates.
Christine Cary, who helps address economic justice with the group Stand In for Nebraska, said other data routinely show that healthier foods tend to cost more, so the connection made in this new research is pretty clear.
"Raising the minimum wage is obviously a way to increase access to healthier food," she said. "You just have more money to spend on it."
In 2022, Nebraska voters approved a gradual increase in the state's minimum wage, which is set to reach $15 an hour in 2026. At the same time, the state doesn't fare well in obesity rankings.
Cary said she sees a chance for numbers to improve as wages go up, but noted that not all communities have stores that sell healthy foods, potentially hindering that progress.
The study's authors also called for "place-based" interventions, such as urban farming initiatives and subsidies for healthy food retailers to go along with higher wages. Cary said that's an important step in tackling this issue.
"It's pretty well known among geographers that we shop at the closest place," she said, "meaning don't expect people who are already low income to seek these things out."
She said creating more awareness and options in underserved communities can help maximize the impact of higher wages from a public health standpoint. Cary said that's especially important in a rural state such as Nebraska, which has seen its food retail and health facility options disappear in smaller towns and cities.
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Democrat-backed bills in Michigan addressing pensions, health-care costs and public assistance remain stalled before heading to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for signing.
The bills -- House Bills 4665, 4666 and 4667 -- were passed by Democrats in their final days of the Michigan House majority, with bipartisan support. But they're now on hold as Republicans conduct what they call a "legal review" before sending them to the governor's desk. The bills include adding corrections officers to the state police pension system.
Richard Cardenas, director of the Michigan State Employees Association's Public Safety Division, said he sees that as a critical step for public safety.
"Obviously we want to have the best candidates coming into this profession," he said, "because it's no secret, sometimes we might be put into situations that we have to make split-second decisions under very stressful conditions."
Other media sources report Republican House Speaker Matt Hall questioned whether a new Legislature can address the actions of the previous one, so he stressed the need for the legal review before making a decision.
Sending bills from a previous session to the governor is rare. The bills in question passed the Michigan House and Senate, after hundreds of public-safety officers and supporters lobbied state lawmakers. Despite the stall, Cardenas said he's pleased with the bills' progress so far.
"To get it through the House and the Senate is obviously a huge accomplishment," he said. "There's been several attempts to get a better retirement package through the process and unfortunately, it's fallen short several times. And this is the farthest that we've ever seen it get."
In Michigan, after passing both chambers, a bill must be sent to the governor, who then has 14 days to sign or veto it. However, there's no set time for when the bill must be presented to the governor.
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More Michigan residents need access to affordable housing and health insurance, according to a lawmaker pushing for change.
Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, a public health policy expert, marks the issues as priorities. This week, she introduced House Bill 4009 to repeal Michigan's 1988 ban on rent stabilization. She said it would restore local control and allow cities to consider measures like rent control.
Rheingans shared her personal experience of the financial strain on renters in cities like Ann Arbor, where many spend over half their income on housing.
"I'm a renter in Ann Arbor. I've been a renter there for over 20 years, because I can't afford to buy a house in the area," Rheingans explained. "My rent went up 33% from my last lease year to this lease year and there's nothing prohibiting that."
The bill has been referred to the Committee on Government Operations for review. Rheingans added she is also a strong advocate for expanding the MiCare program, created under the Affordable Care Act, to become publicly funded insurance covering all Michiganders without co-pays or coverage limits.
Nearly 500,000 Michigan residents, including 80,000 children, lack health insurance. Rheingans emphasized if MiCare could be expanded, they would be eligible for comprehensive coverage, from hospital stays and prescriptions to mental health care. With a background in public health, she called it her passion.
"I believe that every policy issue is a health issue," Rheingans outlined. "The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the access we have to medical care. All those kinds of things are items that we can work on in the world of policy."
Rheingans now represents the area of Michigan where she grew up in Jackson County. Her great-grandfather served as a minister there nearly a century ago. Her legislative tenure began two years ago this month.
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Iowa lawmakers are considering reducing fines companies pay for breaking child labor laws. The state has said it's trying to find safe and creative ways to add more people to the workforce.
The proposal to rewrite Section 32 of the state's child labor laws would reduce fines for companies that violate them from $10,000 per instance to $2,500.
Iowa AFL-CIO President Charlie Wishman said Iowa has the infamous distinction of leading the nation in rolling back labor laws designed to protect minors.
"You've seen a lot of child labor law reform all across the country and it doesn't really seem to necessarily be based in partisanship," said Wishman. "You can see a place like Alabama that's strengthening it. You can see a place like Iowa that's loosening it."
The state has said it's looking at creative ways to add more people to the workforce, with shortages especially critical in rural areas.
Wishman said he worries reducing the fines would create even greater safety risks for minors in those places. The proposal is in the Legislature's joint Administrative Rules Review Committee.
Iowa is one of the only states that reports losing population, and with that out-migration goes a much-needed employee base.
As a labor advocate, Wishman said he isn't opposed to giving kids a chance to earn money and learn responsibility by working.
"But that doesn't mean that has to come at the expense of their schoolwork, their extracurricular activities or other things like that, or other responsibilities they have," said Wishman. "And when you lower the penalties that businesses would have for violating the law, you're just going to encourage more violations."
Recent changes to Iowa law allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work up to six hours on a school day, extends working hours for kids to 9 p.m. during the school year, and until 11 p.m. during the summer.
Disclosure: Iowa Federation of Labor contributes to our fund for reporting on Environmental Justice, Livable Wages/Working Families, Social Justice, Urban Planning/Transportation. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
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