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Lawsuit Over Minimum Wage Laws Pit Mayor, City Council Against Each Other

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The mayor is suing City Council.

At issue is the legality of two new laws setting a minimum wage for workers on many city-funded projects.

The council overrode Mayor Michael Bloomberg's veto in June to mandate a wage of at least $10 per hour for workers at companies getting $1 million or more in city funding.

They cover all sorts of companies getting city subsidies or contracts, as well as landlords renting space to city agencies.

Bloomberg said he thinks the wage requirements hurt business.

In a lawsuit filed Friday, the city's legal department also argues that the wage hikes are illegal.

City lawyers say only the state is empowered to set a minimum wage.

A council spokeswoman says lawmakers are confident the challenge will be shot down.

Who do you support in this minimum wage debate?  Share your thoughts in the comments section below...

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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