Governor Pat QuinnCHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is hoping to show first-hand what it’s like to live on the state’s minimum wage of $8.25 an hour.

Quinn has made raising Illinois’ minimum wage a cornerstone of his re-election campaign against Republican challenger Bruce Rauner. On Sunday the governor announced at a campaign event that he would limit his spending on food and other expenses for the next week to $79.

That’s how much money he says someone working full time for minimum wage has to spend after housing, transportation and taxes.

Rauner has said that he’s open to raising the minimum wage if it is tied to business reforms so small businesses can absorb the added labor costs.

Quinn first announced in late July that he planned take the minimum wage challenge.
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