Daley Vetoes ‘Living Wage’ Bill
I was actually shocked to see he did veto it, but am glad that he did.
Background:
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.
Sales and profit are two very different things, yet the city felt it necessary to make sure the wording was sales…Obviously Daley is looking out for his bottom line. The city council, in their zest to take a stand against Wal-Mart, ended up losing revenue for the giant retailer..they ended up building just outside the city limits.
Let’s see if the council overrides him:
Monday’s veto – the first-ever for Daley in his 17 years as mayor – will like set up a showdown during Wednesday’s Chicago City Council meeting.
It takes 34 votes to override a mayoral veto. The measure passed 35-14, but some aldermen have since indicated they might be open to changing their votes and acting against the ordinance.
