Quinn Eats $2 Breakfast for Minimum Wage Challenge

Illinois governor is trying to live on $79 this week

Gov. Pat Quinn continued his search for cheap eats Wednesday as part of his mission to live on the minimum wage this week.

Quinn ate a $2 breakfast in Champaign Wednesday morning.

The governor is trying to live on $79 this week, the equivalent of what a full-time Illinois minimum wage worker would have to spend after housing, transportation and taxes.

"It's pretty hard, especially for moms and dads raising kids at $8.25 an hour. They're working hard, and really I think the mission this year is to raise the Illinois minimum wage to at least $10 an hour," Quinn said.

Quinn's Republican opponent, Bruce Rauner, called Quinn's effort a "publicity stunt."

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel signed an executive order Wednesday that requires city contractors and subcontractors to pay employees a $13-an-hour minimum wage. The order applies to city contracts advertised after Oct. 1 and will affect about 1,000 contracted employees.

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