Voters will get to weigh in on whether Illinois should raise its minimum wage for adults to $10 an hour. Gov. Pat Quinn approved the ballot question Sunday, and wasted no time campaigning on the issue.
The question is just advisory — lawmakers don’t have to heed the people’s advice — but supporters of the increase say they hope it’ll pressure reluctant legislators to go along.
Critics say this is a ploy to get more Democrats to the polls — since turnout tends to be lower in non-presidential election years.
Unlikely to allay those concerns was Gov. Quinn’s signing ceremony, which sounded like a campaign rally.
“You know, when people work from paycheck to paycheck, they ought to have a decent paycheck to support their family on. That’s what our movement’s all about,” Quinn said to cheers from the crowd.
Within minutes, Quinn's campaign sent out two e-mail blasts, including one soliciting donations.
Voters could be confronted with as many as seven referenda on this November’s ballot.
