Bill Text: IL HB3817 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Veto Message
Bill Title: Amends the Election Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the nomination of candidates for the General Assembly.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Vetoed) 2015-01-12 - Governor Amendatory Veto [HB3817 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2013-HB3817-Veto_Message.html
January 12, 2015
To the Honorable Members of the
Illinois House of Representatives,
98th General Assembly:
I hereby return House Bill 3817 with specific recommendations for change.
My recommendation is that in addition to the provisions of the enrolled bill, this legislation would provide for a binding referendum to be held on April 7, 2015 in each of the State’s election jurisdictions (generally, equivalent to a county, except for eight (8) Boards of Election Commissioners for certain municipalities), to raise the minimum wage in that election jurisdiction. Each election jurisdiction, except for City of Chicago, will be allowed to decide for themselves whether to raise the minimum wage for their own communities. The City of Chicago, which has already enacted an ordinance raising the minimum wage will not be required under this measure to have a binding referendum.
My specific recommendations for change do not in any way modify the provisions of House Bill 3817. Upon acceptance of my recommendations, the provisions of the bill that passed the General Assembly will take effect along with the measures that I am proposing.
At the November 4, 2014 general election, 66.74% voters supported a Statewide advisory referendum to increase the State minimum wage to ten dollars ($10) per hour by January 1, 2015 from its current level of $8.25 per hour.
During the fall legislative session, although the Illinois Senate passed a law to raise the minimum wage, the House of Representatives failed even to consider a minimum wage bill before adjourning sine die. But the House did find time to address other pieces of legislation. One of the proposals the House did address was a measure to give a tax benefit to profitable retail businesses that also offer “private label” credit cards. Yet, helping Illinois working families by raising the minimum wage was not as high a priority. The House’s failure to address this paramount issue after hearing the electorate’s clear message undermines democracy.
We must return to the basic principles of direct democracy.
