The Chicago Tribune: on Jobs

Jim Oberweis: Minimum wage of $10 (and less for those under age 24)

State Sen. Jim Oberweis prefers a minimum-wage hike only for workers who are in their mid-20s or older. His campaign calls closing the pay gap a "handy campaign prop" with no chance of becoming law. Oberweis believes lower taxes and fewer federal regulations would help improve workers' fortunes.

In April, Oberweis proposed a state measure to gradually boost the minimum wage for workers 26 and older until their hourly wages hit $10 in 2017. On the federal level, Oberweis might favor raising the minimum wage for workers who are at least 24 years old. Oberweis' campaign points to a CBO report which found that most low-wage workers would receive higher pay under the federal proposal but that once the increases were fully implemented in 2016, total employment would be reduced by about 500,000 workers because some low-wage jobs would be eliminated.

Richard Durbin: Raise minimum wage to $10.10 & same pay regardless of gender

Jim Oberweis prefers a minimum-wage hike only for workers who are in their mid-20s or older. His campaign calls the Durbin-backed measure to close the pay gap a "handy campaign prop" with no chance of becoming law.

Durbin favors gradual increases over 2 years until the minimum hits $10.10. Initially it would climb to $8.20 an hour, below the $8.25-an-hour minimum in Illinois. Later hikes would see the minimum wage rise to $9.15 and $10.10 [and thereafter] tie hikes in the minimum wage after 2016 to the rate of inflation. Durbin says the buying power of the minimum wage has dropped more than 30% since 1968. He says an increase would inject money into the economy, fueling demand for goods and services and creating 85,000 jobs. According to Durbin, businesses that don't pay employees enough to survive are asking the government to make up the difference with food stamps and other help.

Sharon Hansen: No minimum wage; & no set pay based on gender

Libertarian Sharon Hansen said she opposes raising the minimum wage and that employers should be free to set workers' pay without regard to gender.

Durbin favors gradual increases over two years until the hourly minimum hits $10.10. Durbin says an increase would inject money into the economy, fueling demand for goods & services and creating 85,000 jobs.

Oberweis' campaign points to a CBO report which found that most low-wage workers would receive higher pay under the proposal but that total employment would be reduced by about 500,000 workers.

Ron Johnson: Proven record of creating jobs at his private company

Russell Feingold: $184B stimulus created jobs, especially highway construction