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Local Hire And The State-Market-Participant Doctrine: A Trojan Horse For The Commerce Power Of Congress, Charles H. Clarke

Cleveland State Law Review

"Local hire" laws require that when units of local government hire employees a preference be given to residents of the governmental unit. These laws affect employees directly hired by the city or state, as well as employees hired by private contractors to do construction work. Naturally, this employment preference for residents discriminates against those who do not reside within the city or state. Nonresidents, however, are afforded extensive protection against discrimination by states and their political subdivisions by two clauses of the Constitution: the commerce clause and the interstate privileges and immunities, or comity, clause. This Article will analyze the …