Minimum wage goes to $8.25 today, By John R. Pulliam, July 1, 2010, Galesburg Register-Mail: “Workers who are paid minimum wage in Illinois received a 25 cents per hour raise, from $8 to $8.25, effective today. The increase is the fourth since then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed legislation when the minimum wage was $6.50 an hour. On July 1, 2007, the wage went to $7.50, with 25 cents per hour increases in 2008, 2009 and today. Many politicians and business leaders contend that the relatively high minimum wage in Illinois causes businesses to shy away from the state. The only states with higher minimum wages than Illinois are Pennsylvania, $9.35; Washington, $8.55 and Oregon, $8.40. Connecticut and the District of Columbia both have $8.25 an hour minimum wages. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour…”
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty