A Press Statement from the Office of State Representative Amy Grant
February 14, 2019
SPRINGFIELD— After members of the House of Representatives approved legislation on Thursday that would increase the Illinois minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025, State Representative Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) voiced concerns over the process and outcome through the following press statement:
“It is no secret that the minimum wage increase will force some Illinois companies to release mid-level managers and some other employees. Illinois already has a higher minimum wage than all neighboring states[i], and any potential increase should have been discussed in a bipartisan manner so that all voices across Illinois could be heard. ”
“In the last five years republicans worked with low wage earners and the business community to responsibly roll out a $10 minimum wage
using phases over a long period of time. Governor Pritzker promised to bring Republicans and Democrats together with a promise of bipartisanship. A better product could have been produced on this bill if common sense was enacted. Now Governor Pritzker looks to sign this bill into law as soon as it hits his desk. Instead of finding a solution to slowly phase in a $2 increase, the governor wants to double the wage in a short time period.”
“Doubling our minimum wage in such a short time period is
going to cement Illinois’ position at dead last in job growth compared to our
neighboring states. It will also show everyone that Illinois is not serious
about economic opportunity. It is not only business that is harmed. My local
school superintendents have grave concerns about how this increase will affect
their budgets, and by extension, local taxes.”
- [i] Indiana: $7.25 / increases tied to the federal rate
- Iowa: $7.25 / increases tied to the federal rate
- Kentucky: $7.25 / increases tied to the federal rate
- Missouri: $8.60 / tied to annual cost of living factors determined by the CPI index and increasing, incrementally to $12.00/hr on January 1, 2023
- Wisconsin: $7.25