Black History Month: Lightford highlights Marcia Fudge (VIDEO)

• Video
• Black History Month

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Chicago) highlights Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio 11th District) for her leadership in preserving voting rights.

Lightford: Let’s give Illinois workers a raise

• Minimum Wage

SPRINGFIELD – Minimum-wage earners statewide could soon see a pay increase under a proposal approved by the Senate on Thursday that raises the minimum wage to $15 by January 2025. Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) directed efforts that would give hardworking families a much-needed raise.

“The people who keep businesses going deserve a salary that allows them to take care of their financial responsibilities whether is taking care of a family, paying off student loans or simply covering their basic needs,” Lightford said.

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Cannabis Legalization Town Hall

• Event
• Cannabis

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) will host a Town Hall Discussion on Cannabis Legalization on Monday, February 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Lightford continues the fight for $15

• Minimum Wage

SPRINGFIELD – Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) tackles raising the minimum wage as a priority issue to start the spring legislative session. Senate Bill 1 is currently being negotiated with the goal of raising the minimum wage in Illinois to $15 per hour.

The Senate Labor Committee held a hearing on the minimum wage in Illinois on Wednesday to discuss the current proposal. Panels discussed the need for raising the minimum wage as well as pay for tip workers, the youth subminimum wage and support for small businesses.

“I am looking at our working families with the damage the past four years have done still in mind,” Lightford said. “They have waited for a raise for much too long, and it is time for people working full time to bring home a paycheck that allows them to provide for themselves and their families.”

Lightford is responsible for the 2003 and 2006 laws that gradually increased the minimum wage from $5.15 to the current $8.25 per hour.