SPRINGFIELD – Assistant Majority Leader Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) released the following statement this afternoon after voting to increase Illinois’ minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025:

“Working families haven’t seen a raise in Illinois since 2010, while costs for housing, child care and food have only continued to increase. The compromise plan I supported today gradually increases wages while providing a key tax refund for small businesses.

“For thousands of Illinois families struggling to get by, this increase will provide more security and stability in their everyday lives.”

Senate Bill 1 passed on a 39-18 vote and now heads to the Illinois House for further debate.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) released the following statement after being sworn in to the Illinois Senate today:

“I’m honored to be sworn in for another term in the Illinois Senate,” Link said. “During my upcoming term, I will continue building on past efforts to make Illinois a better place to live and work, and I look forward to having a partner in the governor's office who shares these goals.”

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SPRINGFIELD – Senator Terry Link offered his support for Judge Carol Pope to be the next Illinois Legislative Inspector General, the top ethics watchdog for the General Assembly and its employees.

“Judge Carol Pope has a long career in public service and the experience, qualifications and character that are necessary for the important role of Legislative Inspector General,” said Senator Terry Link, a Vernon Hills Democrat. “The people of Illinois can trust Judge Pope to investigate and take proper action regarding any cases that come through the office.”

Link is a member of the Illinois Legislative Ethics Commission that is recommending Pope be hired.

Judge Pope currently serves as a member of the Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee, which provides ethics advice to judges throughout Illinois. Pope previously served seven years as a State’s Attorney in Menard County, 17 years as a Circuit Court Judge and nine years as Appellate Justice in the Fourth Appellate District.

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) advanced a measure today that would cut wasteful spending by eliminating small road districts and allowing for government consolidation.

“Everyone loves to talk about how Illinois has too many units of government,” Link said. “This bill would help fix that. Everyone loves to complain about high property taxes. This bill would help provide property tax relief.”

House Bill 4637 requires that road districts in Lake and McHenry counties must be abolished if they contain less than 15 miles of roads.

“We don’t need a governing body for less than 15 miles of roads,” Link said. “It just doesn’t make any sense. Government consolidation is long overdue, and eliminating wasteful road districts is the perfect place to start.”

The measure also authorizes a petition-initiated township dissolution procedure for each township within McHenry County.

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