Illinois Governor Pat Quinn says he wants to raise Illinois' minimum wage to at least $10 by Christmas of next year.
The Chicago Democrat who's seeking re-election campaigned on the issue in 2010 and mentioned it during his annual address this year. The minimum wage in Illinois is $8.25. Quinn said yesterday that raising the wage will help eliminate poverty.
Illinois last raised the minimum wage in 2010. There's legislation pending in Springfield to increase it, including a call for $15 an hour.
Republicans and business groups say raising the minimum wage kills jobs.
Quinn says that claim is flat wrong. Some business groups also accuse Quinn of trotting out the issue ahead of the 2014 election. Quinn says it's not a new issue for him.