Chicago mayor Richard Daley wielded the first veto in his 17 year tenure as mayor against the anti-business (and frankly anti-Wal-Mart) "living wage" ordinance the city council passed in July. I'm guessing there was a lot of political maneuvering before he did so. The law originally passed with one more vote than it would take to override the veto. Knowing a bit about Chicago and Illinois politics, my guess here is that he already has secured at least a couple of promises to switch votes.
Supporters said the measure would guarantee employees a "living wage," but in a letter to City Council members released Monday, Daley said the ordinance would drive businesses from the city.
"I understand and share a desire to ensure that everyone who works in the city of Chicago earns a decent wage," Daley wrote. "But I do not believe that this ordinance, well intentioned as it may be, would achieve that end."
The ordinance was approved by the council in late July and requires so-called "big box" stores to pay workers at least $10 an hour plus $3 in fringe benefits by mid-2010. The rules would only apply to companies with more than $1 billion in annual sales and stores of at least 90,000 square feet.
The minimum wage in Illinois is $6.50 an hour and the federal minimum is $5.15.
Chicago has been at the epicenter of a debate about the wages at large retailers ever since the city rejected a proposal by Wal-Mart to open a store on the South Side, prompting the company to open a store just outside the city limits.
Daley very likely did some very, very intensive horse-trading on this one. Interesting series of events for Chicago.
I would love to know more about Chicago politics, especially Daley’s politics. I’ve been reading up on it a little lately. It seems to be bleeding into my state and I’m not liking what these Chicagoans are doing here