South West Illinois News

In a statement on Oct. 25, Dave Severin, House Rep. of the Illinois House of Representatives emphasized the importance of support for developmental disabled workers and their potential future opportunities in employment. "There’s one component of this that we haven't talked about today that I want to share with you and talking with the other workshops in Southern Illinois, they said you know not only does this impact the people that are working now but it prohibits those that would qualify and would come to a workshop to work, it’s going to prohibit them. I just wanted to share that not only does it affect the people who are working now but also the potential for those who would qualify in the future. This is an important issue and we need to stand firm across both sides of the aisle.", said Dave Severin.

The debate centers around House Bill 793 which, if passed, will outlaw employers from paying developmentally disabled individuals less than minimum wage. The bill "Requires the Department of Human Services, in partnership with other specified State agencies, to eliminate on July 1, 2027 the use of active or pending 14(c) certificates authorized under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as well as authorizations permitted under the Minimum Wage Law to pay an employee with a disability less than the minimum wage otherwise required for employees under the Minimum Wage Law."

House Rep. Dave Severin has held office since Jan. 2017 representing district 116. His committee assignments include House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee; House Mental Health & Addiction Committee; and House Veterans' Affairs Committee. Furthermore, he acts as Republican spokesperson for both House Appropriations-Higher Education Committee and House Energy & Environment Committee.

Critics such as Community Link Executive Director John Huelskamp argue that while bill intentions might be good-natured it fails to acknowledge some people attend these workshops not solely for monetary gains, but for the experience it offers them. Imposing minimum wage might consequently render these individuals unemployed. According to Fox 2, Huelskamp states that "the minimum wage requirement could mean no work for them at all".