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House Overrides Rauner On Salary History

NPR Illinois

Legislation meant to address the gender pay gap is one step closer to becoming law.

The Illinois House voted Wednesday to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the measure.

It would prohibit employers from asking about salary history during the hiring process.

Rep. Margo McDermed, R-Mokena, says wage disparity was a big issue when she entered the workforce in 1978 — and still is today.

“Ladies and gentlemen here in the chamber, if you have a mother, a sister, a grandmother, a wife, a daughter, an auntie, or a niece who’s in the wage-earning private sector, you need to be a ‘yes' on this vote," she said.

Other Republicans said it would impose additional burdens on businesses.

Rauner is urging lawmakers to take up an approach developed in Massachusetts. But backers of the Illinois legislation say that would leave too many loopholes.

The measure still has to get through the Illinois Senate before it would become law.

Copyright 2017 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

Brian Mackey covers Illinois state government and politics from the WUIS Statehouse bureau. He was previously A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. He can be reached at (217) 206-6020.
Brian Mackey
Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.