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The state Senate passed House Bill 1189 Wednesday afternoon. The
measure calls for Illinois’ prevailing wage to override federal
prevailing wage for federal projects if the state wage is
higher.
State Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Swansea, was asked about the
bill’s constitutionality and higher taxpayer costs potentially
leading to fewer projects in Illinois.
“I really don’t think that’s the issue,” Belt said. “Other
states are currently doing it. The Missouri Department of
Transportation right now implements this. Minnesota, California
and Washington are among three other states that right now
implement this very legislation that we’re looking at trying to
enact.”
State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, said Illinois is
already more expensive than other states for the private sector,
and HB 1189 would drive up taxpayer costs for the public sector.
“What this bill does is it makes it more expensive for the
federal government to invest in Illinois. Therefore, they’re
going to invest in other states where their dollar stretches
further, where they can get more road projects done for the same
amount of money, where they can get more bridge projects done
for the same amount of money,” Plummer said. “We’re living in a
state that personifies in real time how the economy falls
backwards and jobs disappear when it’s more expensive to do
business.”
State Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, asked Belt about various
business and construction groups that opposed the measure. Belt
said the conversation stalled when wages were brought up.
Belt said workers are missing out on about $4.45 per hour.
“This legislation really is about fairness. It’s about fairness
to your neighbors, the people who live in your communities,
about getting the fair wage that they deserve,” Belt said.
Forty senators voted in favor of the bill and 18 voted against
it. House Bill 1189 can now be sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker. If he
signs it, the law would take effect July 1.
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