Thank you for visiting my website. It is an honor to represent the 4th District as your State Senator. I hope this website will serve as a resource for you to remain informed on the issues and the legislative work taking place in the General Assembly. Please feel free to explore this website and use it as a resource for accessing the many services offered by your state and local governments.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my offices.
Sincerely,
Senator Kimberly A. Lightford Senate Majority Leader
Join me for an evening to honor grandparents raising grandchildren as we recognize outstanding grandparents who, everday, are exemplifying the pure essence of "parenting the second time around." The event will have food, entertainment, information on available resources and, of course, an awards ceremony for these deserving grand parents.
Read the flier below for more details and click on the nomination form to nominate yourself (if you are a second-time parent) or another deserving grandparent to be recognized at this special event.
2015 has already brought some great memories and moments with it. Just since the beginning of this year, Senator Lightford has felt privileged to be a part of so many great causes and initiatives, and she has had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people along the way that have worked hard to improve our communities and nation as a whole. Luckily, we were able to capture some of these great moments and accomplishments in photos with the Senator and people like you who have largely been responsible for progressing our vibrant communities and our great state.
- Earlier this month,the Senator stopped to talk with advocates from the Alzheimer’s Association in the Capitol and discuss the importance of Alzheimer’s research and awareness.
- The Transportation Construction Apprenticeship Readiness Training program (TCART) is a crucial initiative sponsored by Senator Lightford through IDOT that creates transportation job opportunities for otherwise untrained job seekers. The Senator is pictured here with Austin People Action Center (APAC) Executive Director Cynthia Williams and some apprentices in the program as they advocate for funds at the Capitol after the governor's budget address.
Since Jan. 1, nine states have increased their minimum wage. Today a plan to raise the minimum wage in Illinois to $9 per hour on July 1 passed the Senate. The legislation would raise the minimum wage incrementally by 50 cents a year until 2019, ultimately leading to a new minimum wage of $11 per hour.
“We are answering to the will of the people through the passage of this legislation,” said Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood), the sponsor of the newly passed legislation and a strong supporter of raising the minimum wage. “The minimum wage should be a living wage. If you work full-time, you shouldn’t have to rely on government support to put food on your family’s table or a roof over your head.”
Illinois’ current minimum wage is $8.25 per hour. A single parent working a full-time minimum wage job qualifies for Food Stamps, Medicaid and often housing assistance. In addition, many minimum-wage workers are forced to work several part-time jobs to make ends meet.
On Wednesday, Gov. Bruce Rauner proposed raising Illinois’ minimum wage to $10 over the next seven years. Lightford says that’s not good enough.
“Illinois families are struggling now. They can’t afford Gov. Rauner’s baby-step plan,” Lightford said. “I understand that some small businesses are struggling, too, which is why my plan does have a reasonable phase-in process.”
The legislation also institutes a tax credit for businesses with fewer than 50 employees that gives them three years to adjust to the higher wage.
“When you take the cost of living into account, 50 years ago, the minimum wage was worth a lot more, allowing workers to earn a living wage that kept their families financially independent and functioning as part of the Illinois economy,” said Sen. Lightford.
Adjusting for inflation since the minimum wage was instituted in 1968 at $1.60 per hour, the wage today should stand at more than $10 per hour. Raising the minimum wage to $11 per hour would increase annual wages to $22,880 per in 2019. Though it would still be a struggle, this wage would lift many families out of poverty and end their reliance on state and federal aid.
The legislation, Senate Bill 11 now goes to the House for consideration.
Sen. Lightford talks about the minimum wage increase:
Born May 10, 1968, in Chicago; B.A., public communications & human relations, Western Illinois University; Master's in public administration, University of Illinois at Springfield. Village of Maywood Trustee 1997-2003; State Government Employee - IL Secretary of State, IL Department of Corrections, IL Central Management Services. Resides in Maywood with her family.