SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement regarding the Chicago City Council's approval of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's five-year plan to raise the city's minimum wage from $8.25 in 2014 to $10.00 in 2015, to $10.50 in 2016, to $11.00 in 2017, to $12.00 in 2018 and $13.00 in 2019:
"Raising the minimum wage in Chicago and across Illinois is the right thing to do for all hardworking families in our state.
"Today I applaud Mayor Emanuel and Chicago's City Council for increasing the minimum wage step by step in the city, giving more residents the decent pay they deserve.
"In the November election, people across Illinois spoke out overwhelmingly on behalf of raising the minimum wage.
"This week in Springfield I am working to raise the minimum wage statewide and let Illinois lead the way for the nation in building the middle class. Putting money in the pockets of working families grows the economy and helps businesses thrive.
"It's time to raise the minimum wage in Illinois."
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