A NEW MINIMUM WAGE PROPOSAL CLEARED A STATE SENATE COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY MORNING.

THE LATEST PLAN RAISES THE MINIMUM WAGE TO 11 DOLLARS AN HOUR BY JULY OF 2019…AND INCLUDES A TAX CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. BILL SPONSOR, SENATOR KIMBERLY LIGHTFORD, IS HOPEFUL THAT WILL APPEASE SMALLER BUSINESSES WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT PAYING EMPLOYEES A HIGHER WAGE.

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CITING OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SUPPORT…SEN. LIGHTFORD SAYS THE TIME IS NOW TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE IN ILLINOIS.

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LIGHTFORD’S BILL BOOSTS THE MINIMUM WAGE FROM EIGHT DOLLARS 25 CENTS AN HOUR TO 9 DOLLARS AN HOUR THIS JULY. IT WILL THEN BE INCREASED BY 50 CENTS EACH JULY UNTIL THE MINIMUM WAGE HITS 11 BUCKS AN HOUR IN 2019. THE PROPOSAL EXCLUDES CHICAGO AND INCLUDES A TAX CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. IT NOW MOVES TO THE SENATE FLOOR FOR A VOTE.