SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Latest on action in the Illinois General Assembly on a proposed minimum-wage increase (all times local):
5:10 p.m.
An Illinois House committee has approved a plan to increase the minimum wage to $15 over six years.
The Democratic-controlled Labor and Commerce Committee’s 19-10 vote on Wednesday along party lines sets up a floor vote as early as Thursday. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker campaigned on the issue and told lawmakers he wants to sign the law before his Feb. 20 budget address.
The Senate approved the plan last week .
The proposal would increase the $8.25-per-hour base wage by $1 on Jan. 1. It would increase incrementally until reaching $15 in 2025.
Major business interests believe the ramp-up is too fast for them to absorb costs. And they complain that the wage should be regionalized to reflect lower costs of living outside Chicago.
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The bill is SB1 .
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4:50 a.m.
A House committee plans to hear Democrats’ plans to increase the Illinois minimum wage to $15 over six years.
The Labor and Commerce Committee has scheduled a Wednesday afternoon hearing on Chicago Democratic Rep. Will Guzzardi’s legislation.
The plan would bump the $8.25-an-hour rate to $9.25 on Jan. 1. After moving to $10 on July 1, 2020, it would increase $1 each Jan. 1 until 2025 .
Major business interests oppose the pace of the phase-in. They prefer a tiered approach with lower hourly rates in regions outside Chicago with lower costs of living.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker opposes that approach. He campaigned on a $15 minimum wage and told Democrats controlling the Legislature he wants to sign it into law before his Feb. 20 budget address.
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The bill is SB1.
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