Gov. Pat Quinn says he supports asking voters whether Illinois' minimum wage ought to be raised to $10 an hour.
The state Senate approved that question today for the November ballot.
Senator Kimberly Lightford, a Democrat from Maywood, says polling shows support for the hike across the state. She says a ballot question could give lawmakers the push they need.
"You might find that after this November election, for members who may not be comfortable with the vote, because you have businesses pulling you in a very different direction, you might find that our real bosses, the people who've elected us to be here, are wanting and needing a minimum wage increase," Lightford says.
Opponents say raising the minimum wage would be bad for business, and also lead to higher unemployment among the very workers a raise is intended to help.
Republicans say this non-binding referendum is really meant to entice more Democrats into voting.
