GOVERNOR PAT QUINN SAYS RAISING THE STATE’S MINIMUM WAGE IS A KEY WEAPON IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY.
A RECENT REPORT FOUND ONE POINT NINE MILLION ILLINOISANS WERE LIVING IN POVERTY LAST YEAR. GOVERNOR QUINN SAYS PAYING PEOPLE MORE WOULD HELP LOWER THAT FIGURE.
ILLINOIS' CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE IS EIGHT DOLLARS 25 CENTS AN HOUR…ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY. OPPONENTS SAY RAISING THAT ANY HIGHER WOULD DRIVE BUSINESSES TO OTHER STATES. RECENT ATTEMPTS TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE BEYOND THE CURRENT RATE HAVE STALLED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
