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.”

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.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, supported legislation balancing working families’ need for fair pay with interests of small and medium-sized employers, bringing billions of dollars in new economic activity to local communities.

“Our future depends on new economic development, and the only way we create a thriving economy is to ensure working families have the spending power to support our local businesses,” Crespo said. “This legislation is about making Illinois a more attractive place to live and work. It’s about recognizing that when working families do well, businesses do well.”

Crespo 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.

“This is a careful approach to ensuring everyone who is willing to work receives a fair wage, and helping businesses in our community succeed,” Crespo said. “This is good step in the direction as we work to expand opportunity for families and businesses alike by providing real property tax relief and getting the state’s finances back on track.”