SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Working to lift up Illinois’ middle and working-class families with better pay, state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, voted Thursday to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15.
“People on the West Side and throughout our state are working hard to make ends meet, but desperately need a raise in their incomes,” said Lilly. “It is a tragedy that some families cannot make ends meet and have to balance making choices between health care, groceries and safe day care for their children. Increasing the minimum wage means more money for these families.”
Lilly voted to pass Senate Bill 1, which raises Illinois’ minimum wage from $8.25 to $15 an hour through a series of increases beginning in 2020 while providing tax credits to small and medium-sized businesses to offset a significant amount of the increased wages. According to the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, a $15 minimum wage would generate $19 billion in new economic activity each year. A $15 minimum wage would also lift more than 200,000 people out of poverty, and reduce dependence on safety net programs.
“This increase is long overdue for the families I represent,” said Lilly. “I am proud to stand with Governor Pritzker and my colleagues as we work to lift up our middle class.”
