SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Sen. Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria) says local governments, concerned about the impact a $15 minimum wage would have on local economies, should be allowed to decide what’s best for their communities.
Weaver has introduced Senate Bill 3396 to create minimum wages based on a percentage of the otherwise required state minimum wage, depending on the region.
The legislation would establish six regions in Illinois for the lone purpose of determining each region’s minimum wage.
If approved, SB 3396 would give municipalities or counties the opportunity to opt-out of the state-mandated minimum wage.
The legislation would provide a sliding scale type of rate– so areas with historically-low unemployment and/or higher costs of living would have to keep rates closer to the state-mandated hourly wage.
“When the new minimum wage law passed last year, Chicago already had a minimum wage of $13.00, so an increase over six years to $15.00 had minimal impact on Chicago business owners,” Weaver said. “But, downstate, where the cost of living is 20-40 percent less than in Chicago and the minimum wage started at $8.25, getting the minimum wage to $15.00 will cost jobs with the likely result of the lowest-skilled workers being dropped out of the bottom of the workforce. These employees that need access to starting wage jobs are the employees who do not have as many work options.”
Chicago and Cook County would be exempted from the proposal.
Senate Bill 3396 has been introduced in the Senate and awaits assignment to a legislative committee where it will receive a public hearing.
