Gov. Pat Quinn is using the holiday weekend honoring Martin Luther King Jr. to continue pressing for raising Illinois' minimum wage to at least $10.
The Democratic governor said while visiting a Chicago church Sunday that raising the state's minimum wage from $8.25 would be a key component in what he called the ``war on poverty.''
Quinn says ``Dr. King's legacy was one of service, compassion and inclusion,'' and that ``we can continue his mission to eliminate poverty by raising the minimum wage.''
Additionally, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says that ought to include a big hike in the rate for employees who get tips.
Waiters, bellhops, barbers and any other employees who get a lot of tips can be paid a lower minimum wage. Under federal law, that's just $2.13 an hour.
Durbin says says that rate hasn't been increased in more than 20 years.
"And unfortunately, even good waiters and waitresses are really averaging, many of them, only $9 an hour. A little bit more than minimum wage by Illinois standards, which is $8.25, but hardly enough to have a life of comfort and luxury."
Illinois' minimum wage for tipped employees is $4.95 an hour - higher than the federal level. Durbin wants to see it raised to about $7 an hour across the country.
Republicans and business groups say raising the minimum wage kills jobs. Both the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce have come out against proposed minimum wage increases.
Illinois last raised its minimum wage in 2010 under a series of incremental increases.
