Macon Reporter

Veteran Illinois state Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) is incensed that Gov. J.B. Pritzker has placed politics over service.

“Back early on when the COVID-19 virus was first spreading, we thought one of the best things for a speedy recovery to the economy would be to delay this minimum wage increase,” Halbrook told the Macon Reporter. “Anything short of that, and we felt the task of getting small businesses back to pre-coronavirus levels after being shut down for months would only become more difficult. Now we see all the damage, and all the governor can think about is staying on this campaign promise to deliver on a higher minimum wage.”

As part of the governor’s plan, the state’s minimum wage is increased to $10 an hour on July 1 and will jump to $11 an hour on Jan. 1, 2021. Ultimately the plan calls for a minimum wage of $15 an hour by 2025.

While the state recently moved to Phase 4 of the governor’s five-phase Restore Illinois plan, meaning more businesses can now open with fewer restrictions, Halbrook argues all indications are that small businesses across Illinois are in no position to be taking on even more burden.

“I just don't think the governor has any regard for employers of any size to be continuing to go down this road,” he said. “It just looks like more damage for the economy. I know that it would help the state of mind of so many business owners if they had one less thing like this to worry about at a time when they're trying to get back to speed while still being forced to operate at less than full capacity.”

Come November, Halbrook said is he hoping that voters will finally start the process of taking back their state.

“I would hope that the constituents of this state would demand more,” he said. "Without that, we’re just going to lose more leaving this state for greener pastures.”