February 8, 2019
Dear editor;
It appears that the proposed minimum wage increase for the State is rapidly going to be a reality. As an industry we are not opposed to an increase, but we have tremendous concerns about the speed and lack of analysis on the true impact this legislation will have on the State and in particular the communities that our member newspapers serve.
The Illinois Press Association represents more than 400 newspapers in the State in communities large and small from Chicago to Cairo. Our members live, work, and acts as advocates for their communities and are critically aware of the negative impact that this legislation as proposed will have.
The one-size-fits-all approach and the magnitude of the proposed minimum wage increase that the Legislature is taking to correct this problem is at the core of our concerns.
There are parts of the State that are struggling economically now, that will see the largest impact. Employers, whether retailers, manufacturers, or schools, will feel the full brunt of this legislation. We fear that retailers will close, manufacturers will leave, and schools will be forced to make some really tough choices. In particular, schools either will have to curtail educational opportunities or go back to the local taxpayers or the State government for more money. We already have one of the highest property tax rates in the country, and we all know about the State’s financial mess. The Legislature needs to fully understand the impact on those who will have to pay the higher minimum wage.
We urge the Legislature and the governor to slow this process to truly get the necessary input from those who will be impacted. We do support the State’s effort to correct a problem that should have been addressed previously, but we are concerned that in an effort to get this done rapidly the full impact on the fragile local economies in the smaller communities throughout the State are being ignored.
After all, we know the communities we represent and fully understand that it will not serve any purpose to pay a wage that nobody can afford, because ultimately there will be fewer employers in business to pay it.
Sam Fisher,
Illinois Press Association President & CEO
Springfield