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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Sam Quigley  sam@patrioticmillionaires.org  317-752-9150

Illinois Minimum Wage Vote is a Victory for Workers and the Economy

"In an economy that is 70% driven by consumer demand, giving a third of the working population a raise is the best economic stimulus available."

WASHINGTON

This morning, following the Illinois General Assembly's passage of a bill to gradually raise the state minimum wage to $15/hour, the Chair of the Patriotic Millionaires Morris Pearl, former managing director at BlackRock Inc., issued the following statement:

"We're encouraged that the Illinois General Assembly has decided to support workers and pass a bill raising the state minimum wage to $15 an hour. With nearly one-third of workers making less than $15 an hour, too many Americans are locked out of participating in our economy. This bill is an important step forward, not only toward ensuring that every person working full-time can afford his or her basic needs, but also toward a strong and vibrant economy within the state of Illinois. In an economy that is 70% driven by consumer demand, giving a third of the working population a raise is the best economic stimulus available. The Illinois General Assembly has shown their dedication to serving the working people of Illinois, and we hope Governor Rauner will do the same and sign the bill into law."

The Patriotic Millionaires is a group of high-net worth Americans who share a profound concern about the destabilizing level of inequality in America. Our work centers on the two things that matter most in a capitalist democracy: power and money. Our goal is to ensure that the country's political economy is structured to meet the needs of regular Americans, rather than just millionaires. We focus on three "first" principles: a highly progressive tax system, a livable minimum wage, and equal political representation for all citizens.

(202) 446-0489