Minimum Wage Bill Closer To Becoming Law
Updated: Saturday, March 29 2014, 01:07 AM CDT
The bill that would increase the minimum wage in Illinois is one step closer to becoming law.
Today, the bill passed in committee, and is on its way to be heard on the Senate floor. If it becomes law, it will increase the state's minimum wage to $10.65 over the next three years.
The first change is expected to happen this July, raising the minimum wage for everyone 18 years and over to $9.25 an hour. The complete raise to $10.65 is projected to happen in July 2016.
The owner of Charlie Parker's Diner, Mike, Murphy, testifed on behalf of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
If the bill becomes law it will increase the state's minimum wage to $10.65 over the next three years.
Murphy says employees who currently make more than minimum wage will also expect a pay increase.
"Only two ways to handle it...Either raise costs or cut expenses. Unfortunately when you cut expenses, the people that get hurt are at the lower end of it because they're typically in the less skilled jobs, but increasing it 29 percent, that effects all my workers and it's a big number," Murphy said.
Raising the minimum wage is a major campaign theme in Quinn's re-election bid against republican Bruce Rauner.
Quinn wants Illinois' rate to be at least 10 dollars by the end of the year.