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We Mean Business. Illinois Business. |
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Critics pan proposal to raise minimum wage to nation's second highest By ALAN J. ORTBALSWhile the federal minimum wage of $5.15 per hour hasn't increased in nine years, the state of Illinois has enacted its own increases going to $5.50 per hour in January 2004 and up to $6.50 per hour in January 2005. In his campaign for re-election, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has called for an additional increase to $7.50 per hour, which would make Illinois' rate second only to the state of Washington. According to Andrew Ross, spokesman for Blagojevich, raising the minimum wage is part of raising the overall economic well being of the state. "I think the numbers really tell the story," Ross said. "Since January 2004, Illinois has gained more than 150,000 new jobs, which is more than any other Midwest state. The total number of jobs created this year alone is more than 75,000 new jobs, which is [continue] | ||||||||||
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