Rock Island, Illinois (KWQC) – State and union officials in Rock Island County met amid a push to get home care workers better pay.

The heart of the discussion is to garner support to pass the Community Care Program which would give home care workers a two dollar pay increase per hour. Advocates say the measure would also add more taxes on the wealthy to fund additional care programs.

Advocates say more than 20,000 seniors are going without care because of a worker shortage that’s widened due to low wages in the career field.

The bill to raise home care pay is in the rules committee in both the Illinois house and senate.

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