Rauner cool to idea of $15 hourly wage for home care workers
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Bruce Rauner is signaling a cool reception to legislation that raises the base salary for home care workers to $15 an hour.
The Illinois House approved the idea 67-44 Wednesday. Roughly 24,000 workers care for disabled residents in their homes and make $13 an hour.
Rep. Sonya Harper says the work is physically taxing, often unpleasant and saves the state money in nursing-home expenses.
Catherine Kelly is a spokeswoman for Republican Rauner. She says the proposal would cost $87 million more annually and mean cuts to other important programs.
The workers belong to the SEIU Healthcare Illinois union and could continue negotiating wages above $15. Kelly says the bargaining table is the place to settle wages, not the Legislature.
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The bill is SB2931.
Online: http://www.ilga.gov