Illinois Senate votes to raise the minimum wage

[FernBell]

In a show of partisan strength, the Democratic-controlled Senate voted Wednesday to raise the state's minimum wage by a dollar to $7.50 an hour next year. But the measure faced an uncertain future in the House.

Supporters contended the work of the lowest-paid should have a higher value as Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) muscled the measure through his chamber on a 33-21 roll call with only one Republican vote.

........

In addition to increasing the minimum wage, an annual cost-of-living adjustment based on the rate of inflation would provide automatic increases starting in 2008. The cost-of-living component is already embraced by 10 states.

"A job should lift you out of poverty," said sponsoring Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood). "It should not keep you in poverty."



http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0611160006nov16,1,4917201.story?coll=chi-news-hed