State's minimum wage too high, Brady says - GOP governor candidate says Illinois rate should be set at federal level

State's minimum wage too high, Brady says - GOP governor candidate says Illinois rate should be set at federal level
By Ray Long
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
6:05 p.m. CDT, June 25, 2010
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/elections/ct-met-illinois-governor-race-minimum20100625,0,5375183.story


SPRINGFIELD — Republican governor candidate Bill Brady said Friday that he supports lowering Illinois' minimum wage if he wins in November and the state rate remains higher than the federal one.

"For the state of Illinois to come in and micro-manage wages above the federal minimum wage is a mistake," Brady, a state senator from Bloomington, told reporters after speaking at a VFW convention.

Illinois' minimum wage will rise a quarter to $8.25 an hour on Thursday, a dollar above the $7.25 federal minimum wage that took effect last July.

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Brady initially hedged on saying whether he would support rolling back the state minimum wage to the federal level if he becomes the state's chief executive.

"I disagree with trying to elevate the minimum wage above the federal level," he said. "The federal level is a competitive level, competing with neighboring states. We are losing jobs because private-sector business investments (are) going to other states."

Pressed further, Brady acknowledged he backs bringing down Illinois' minimum wage to the federal level if it's lower than the state rate, should he be governor. "I would support equaling, uh, adopting the federal minimum wage, yes," Brady said.

The issue divides Brady from Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who has talked up the wage increase this week. Quinn campaign spokeswoman Mica Matsoff contended that Brady has "once again demonstrated his disregard for the hard-working people of our state."

"Sen. Brady's solutions to our economic problems would be to turn the clock back" on various pro-labor laws, she said.

Lawmakers approved a gradual step up to $8.25 for Illinois' minimum wage in 2006 and used the moment to give themselves fatter paychecks too.

rlong@tribune.com
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