* From a press release…
Republican candidate for Governor Kirk Dillard issued the following statement regarding Gov. Quinn’s comments on raising the minimum wage in Illinois.
“I know families are struggling out there, and times are tough. But Governor Quinn is just trying to cover up the fact that since he’s been governor, our state’s business climate has sunk to historic lows. We need to bring good paying, real jobs back to Illinois — jobs that have a future — jobs that families can build a life on. Raising the minimum wage as an election-year stunt won’t do that.”
* Erickson…
But Dillard, who is running for governor in 2014, voted in favor of raising the minimum wage in 2006 when it was being pushed by now-imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican, was among eight GOP senators who said “yes” in November 2006 to a plan to bump the minimum wage to $7.50 an hour in 2007. It topped out at $8.25 an hour in 2010.
Two of Dillard’s opponents in the GOP race for governor — state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington and state Treasurer Dan Rutherford of Chenoa, who then was a state senator — voted “no” on the 2006 minimum wage hike. […]
Dillard did not immediately respond to questions about his switch in positions Wednesday evening.
Sigh.
*** UPDATE *** The story has been updated with a react…
Dillard spokesman Wes Bleed said Dillard has been a consistent opponent of minimum wage increases, but was persuaded to support the 2006 boost because the economy was in better shape.
“For the most part, he has opposed increasing the minimum wage,” Bleed said.
Dillard also voted “Present” on a minimum wage bill in 2006…
State Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, said he did not have a problem with increasing the minimum wage, but felt it should be handled at the federal level.
That’s quite a few positions over the years.
