Oberweis acknowledges Senate hurdles

Dairy entrepreneur Jim Oberweis says his proposal to raise the minimum wage for U.S. workers aged 26 and older is a search for middle ground on one of the hottest issues in the 2014 election, even if it contradicts the position of fellow business executives and Republicans whose support he needs in a longshot bid against U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

During an hourlong interview with The Associated Press that covered a number of topics, the Illinois state senator laid out his views on worker wages and how he handles the issue in his own ice cream shops.

He said the "kids" who work hourly at his ice cream shops not only are guaranteed the minimum wage but also earn a bonus based on the store's sales each day they work. That system, he said, provides an incentive to work more efficiently and to encourage customers to buy more.

Labeled by Democrats as too conservative for Illinois, and still trying to overcome a number of stumbles in five earlier attempts at public office, Oberweis acknowledged he has not had the active support of the national party in his race against the U.S. Senate's second most powerful Democrat. But he expressed confidence that help will emerge as Republicans zero in on the chance of taking control of the chamber.

"For me to win it's going to have to be a pretty significant Republican year," said Oberweis, who earned a 100 percent rating from the American Conservative Union for his positions on a range of issues. "I fully recognize that."

Oberweis also acknowledged he has accomplished "precious little" in Springfield since he was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2012. He said that's because Republican ideas get no traction with Democrats holding supermajorities in the Illinois Legislature, and vowed more achievement if part of a GOP-run Senate in Washington.

Calling himself a nonpolitician who always says what's on his mind, Oberweis dismissed the notion that his unique proposal on the minimum wage would conflict with the hard line the Republican leadership and business groups have taken against a Democratic push to raise the minimum wage at all. He said teenagers - and particularly minority teenagers - would be most likely to lose their jobs if an across-the-board minimum wage hike becomes law, because many businesses would have to cut employees to cover the added cost.

"I was trying to put out a suggestion for a discussion to try to work together with Democrats and Republicans to come up with a meaningful solution," Oberweis said, arguing that it would cause "discomfort" only to Democrats who "don't want to talk about alternatives to their plan."

Durbin, who is pushing to raise the federal and the state minimum wage to at least $10 per hour, up from $7.25 nationally and $8.25 in Illinois, has said Oberweis' plan would leave out about half of the people struggling to make ends meet on the minimum wage, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Durbin said that would include single mothers, college students and veterans returning from duty, and called it a sign the wealthy Republican is out of touch with working people.

Oberweis told AP his business experience and history of creating jobs make him better qualified than Durbin, who has represented Illinois in Washington since 1983. Oberweis started a money management company he said manages almost $2 billion, and grew his family's dairy business from one ice cream store to more than 40, with some 1,200 employees.

State legislation Oberweis introduced this year would raise the wage for Illinois workers 26 and older to $10 per hour by 2017. He said he chose age 26 partly because under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul - which he would like to repeal - children may remain on their parents' health insurance until they reach that age. Also, by 26, he said, most workers have the experience to move on to higher-paying jobs. He favors a similar approach at the federal level, though he hasn't decided what that higher hourly wage should be.

Most Republicans and many business leaders oppose raising the minimum wage because they say it will kill jobs and there are other ways - such as reducing regulatory burdens on business - to improve the economy.

It isn't the first time that Oberweis and others in his party have been divided. Some party leaders tried to dissuade him from challenging Durbin, concerned some of his conservative views and previous gaffes could hurt other Republicans further down the ballot.

"I've always I guess been an independent thinker," said Oberweis, who has said he's learned from his past missteps.