Illinois lawmaker proposes raising minimum wage to $15

Posted on March 14, 2017
Will Guzzardi
State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) is introducing legislation to raise the minimum wage in Illinois to $15. (Photo by www.ilga.gov)

By RFD Radio/WFMB

SPRINGFIELD – The $15 minimum wage movement is now in writing in Illinois.

State Rep. Will Guzzardi, a Chicago Democrat, is drafting legislation to boost the state’s starting wage to $15, although it wouldn’t reach the mark until 2022. Guzzardi said the minimum wage is no longer just about summer jobs for young people.

“You’ve got to step outside your bubble and look around, because that is just now what’s happening in the American economy today,” Guzzardi said. “Service sector jobs, restaurant workers, warehouse workers, homecare workers, these are careers for people.”

Guzzardi’s legislation also offers a cushion for small businesses who will struggle to cough up extra wages.

“We are building in a tax credit into this legislation for small business owners to subsidize the increased costs of raising the wage,” Guzzardi said. “So for people like McDonald’s, and Starbucks and Target and Wal-Mart who can afford this tomorrow , we not going to give them any tax breaks anymore.”

Under the five year phase in, the minimum wage would jump from $8.25 now to $9 next year. Business groups remain opposed.

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