Illinois Valley Times

State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) has little patience for Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s claims that he's helping the state’s small business industry recover from the ravages of COVID-19.

“I’ve sat on several economic development committees since the virus hit and I’ve consistently heard organizations representing small businesses ask that implementation of the minimum wage increase be delayed,” Rezin told the Illinois Valley Times. “They’ve been forced to close down since March and many of them are cash-strapped. They view the delay as allowing them time to recover while they’re all trying to reopen.”

As part of the governor’s plan, the state’s minimum wage increased to $10 an hour on July 1 and will tick up to $11 an hour on Jan. 1, 2021. By 2025, rates are slated to climb to $15 per hour.

Even as she struggles to understand it, Rezin said she’s not surprised the governor has been as inflexible as he has on the subject, vowing that he has no plans to delay the increase. 

“From Day One, they haven’t budged, and they haven’t really given a reason for their position,” she said. Rezin adds the administration’s hard-line position has now left small business owners all across the state in a precarious position.

“Many of these businesses are now making decisions to open up or permanently close,” she said. “I just don’t understand why the administration would ask these groups what it is they need most to help them survive and when they say a delay on the minimum wage respond that’s not on the table. Small businesses and the restaurant association are the biggest job creators in the state. When they say this is what’s needed, you would think that they would be listened to.”