SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Chicago, issued the following statement after the passage of legislating creating a fair wage in Illinois, Senate Bill 1, passed the General Assembly:
“Last November, the people of Illinois rejected the corporate agenda of Bruce Rauner that enriched the ultra-wealthy at the expense of middle-class families. Instead they chose a different path for our state—one that lifts up the middle class and promises every resident that is willing to put in an honest days a fair wage and opportunity to thrive.
“Families in our state haven’t seen an increase in the minimum wage in over a decade, yet the cost of basic essentials like food, healthcare and housing all continued to go up. The status quo wasn’t working for our families and something needed to change.
“Today’s passage of Senate Bill 1 marks an important first step in creating an economy that works for the middle-class, not huge corporations or billionaires. This measure will put more dollars back into the pockets of working families, increasing consumer spending and driving local economic growth.
“Senate Bill 1 creates a brighter future for workers across Illinois and I urge Gov. Pritzker to take swift action and sign this proposal into law.”
