From Mike Halpin talks workers' rights, inflation, SAFE-T Act in News 8 roundtable · · WQAD News 8
“I want to make sure that we're cracking down on companies that are stealing from the wage staff, from their employees, making them clock out and then continue working, things like that. Illinois is a very strong state for that.”
On , Michael Halpin, Chief Operating Officer at VERICEL CORP, spoke about wage theft during Mike Halpin talks workers' rights, inflation, SAFE-T Act in News 8 roundtable on WQAD News 8.
In a September 2023 interview, Michael Halpin, the Democratic candidate for Illinois's 36th Legislative District, outlined his top three priorities as bringing jobs to the area, lessening the pain of high inflation, and passing responsible budgets that provide inflation relief. Halpin stated that he stands with workers and wants Illinois to be a friendly state for workers, including cracking down on companies that steal wages and maintaining strong laws for collective bargaining. Halpin also discussed his support for the SAFE-T Act, which he said ensures every person taken into custody is seen by a judge who determines if they are too dangerous to be out prior to trial. He argued that the current system allows alleged criminals to buy their way out and that the act provides a threat-based system that keeps dangerous people behind bars while allowing those who cannot afford bond to avoid losing their jobs or failing out of school. Halpin added that the bill provides mental health support, extra training, body cameras, and a certification and decertification process for law enforcement, and he accused his opponent of misleading voters about the bill's contents.