Job Creators Network Applauds Governor Rauner’s Veto of $15 Minimum Wage

Atlanta—Today the Job Creators Network (JCN) applauded Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto of legislation that would have increased the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. This move will ensure that pathways to entry-level jobs remain open for young jobseekers who need to gain the basic skills necessary to achieve a successful career in the future.

Instead of a counterproductive fight for $15 an hour, Illinois entry-level workers can now fight for 50—as in $50,000 careers. Learn more about the ‘Fight for 50’ campaign here.

JCN members were very vocal on the issue in encouraging the governor to veto the measure.

Ed Rensi, JCN member and former President and CEO of McDonalds, had two op-eds calling on the Governor to veto the $15 minimum wage legislation and warned of the negative consequences such a mandate would have. One of them appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times and the other in Forbes. Read the op-eds here and here.

Another JCN member, as well as President of Chicago-based Prosperifi, Kris Garlewicz also wrote an op-ed highlighting the consequences of $15 minimum wage legislation in the Illinois Review. Read the op-ed here.

JCN President and CEO, Alfredo Ortiz, released the following statement:

Last week, Governor Rauner made his desire to help Illinois workers clear. He decided to strike down legislation that would have closed off opportunities for young people to gain the necessary skills and experience needed to build successful careers in the future. Instead, the state can now pursue policies that encourage Illinoisans to seek $50,000 careers by keeping career pathways open. That way, we can fill the more than six million job openings that remain vacant in this country.