SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, worked to pass a fair minimum wage bill that will bring billions of dollars in new economic activity to local communities, while balancing working families’ need for fair pay with interests of small and medium-sized employers.
“A fair wage is about making Illinois a more attractive place to live and to work,” said D’Amico. “By putting more money into working families’ pockets in a way that respects the budgets of the small and medium-sized businesses that make up the heart of our local economy, this bill will inject billions of dollars in new economic activity into our economy, helping those businesses grow and succeed.”
D’Amico voted to pass Senate Bill 1, which provides a series of modest annual increases in the minimum wage over the course of five years to ensure pay keeps up with the cost of living, while also providing tax credits for small and medium-sized employers, which will help up to 80 percent of Illinois businesses offset a significant portion of these new wages. According to the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, the bill will raise incomes by about $5,000 for workers in the Chicago area and boost the state’s economy by $19 billion. The majority of the people who will receive raises as a direct result of the bill are women who work full time, many of whom are also supporting families.
“This bill carefully balances the need for fair pay with the needs of small businesses, ultimately lifting up all of Illinois,” D’Amico said. “Raising the minimum wage puts more money where it belongs—in the pockets of working families.”
