By Illinois Public Radio
Springfield, Ill. – Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is expected to sign a minimum wage increase into law.
That, after lawmakers voted to raise the wage to $7.50 an hour, which is a $1 increase.
Supporters say more than 300,000 workers will get a salary boost. But Republican Senator Dale Righter of Mattoon, who voted no, says businesses wind up bearing the brunt of the raises. He says employers in his district along the Indiana border are already at a disadvantage.
The measure will also raise the minimum wage annually until 2010, when it reaches $8.25 an hour.
The sponsor of the legislation in the Senate, Chicago area Democrat Kim Lightford says she has problems with a concession made to businesses that will allow companies to pay young people $0.50 less an hour.
She says she'll introduce legislation in the spring that would boost the pay for teens.