Chicago, one of the most expensive places to live in the country, may raise it's minimum wage to a "living wage" of $9.25 plus $1.50 in benefits an hour for "big box" employers. The increase would only apply to stores with 90,000 square feet and gross 1 billion dollars in sales a year.

Wal-Mart is threatening to stop it's proposed expansion of 20 stores in the city over the next several years. Currently the starting wage for area Wal-marts is $7.25 an hour. Target is also threatening to cancel plans of building new stores, as well as close current stores. In the 21 states that have released the data, Wal-Mart employees top the list of Medicaid recipients. If enacted, Chicago’s “living wage” would set a new wage standard that ultimately could ease state coffers across the country.

Besides, it’s not like Wal-Mart can’t afford to provide sufficient wages to its Chicago employees. A report released by the Economic Policy Institute asserts that Wal-Mart can pay its employees almost $2100 more a year and still maintain a net profit margin almost 50 percent greater than key competitors.

The City Finance Committee has already approved the legislation in a 15-6 vote. The City will vote July 26th, and citizens are encouraged to contact their aldermen and voice their opinion on this matter. Your aldermens e-mail and phone number can be accessed here:

www.cityofchicago.org/CityCouncil