By AP/KWMU
Wood River, Ill. – Rod Blagojevich said Thursday his first priority as a Illinois' newly-reelected governor will be to raise the minimum wage for a second time in three years.
The governor wants lawmakers to raise the hourly minimum to $7.50, from the current $6.50, and he wants them to do it during their fall veto session that begins Tuesday.
Blagojevich also wants the wage to be indexed to inflation so it will change every year.
Missouri voters this week approved hiking the minimum wage to $6.50, plus yearly index increases.
"The point of the American dream is you're supposed to get ahead, not fall behind," Blagojevich said.
During his re-election campaign, Blagojevich often touted his successful effort in 2003 to boost the minimum wage beyond the federal level, to $6.50; the federal minimum has been $5.15 since 1997. The increase meant an additional $2,808 a year for a full-time worker, putting his or her yearly income at $13,520 before taxes.
Judy Baar Topinka, the governor's opponent during this fall's campaign, had argued that increasing the state's minimum wage would cost Illinois jobs, something she said it could ill afford. She advocated increasing the minimum wage nationwide something that seems more likely now that Democrats have won control of Congress.
Blagojevich said he wants Illinois lawmakers to press ahead on the measure regardless of whether Congress pushes a similar measure. Asked if he would require lawmakers to stay in session if they don't come to an agreement during the veto session, Blagojevich simply said: "stay tuned."