Will County Gazette

Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) believes that a universal basic income (UBI) could increase unemployment and ultimately be a drain on municipalities like Chicago. 

"I don't think this is a good idea," Batinick told the Will County Gazette. "I'm not sure we should be giving incentives not to work."

A pilot program for UBI, which would essentially provide money with no strings attached to families struggling to make ends meet, was recently proposed by Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar, which he discussed in an interview with The Intercept.

Alderman Ameya Pawar

One of the issues driving the need for UBI is automation. As more industries move toward automation, the technology could leave millions out of work and only intensify social divides like class and race across the country, he said.

Pawar, who represents Chicago’s 47th Ward, points out that long-haul truck drivers, more than half of which are middle-aged white men, could be impacted by driverless technology. A UBI would help that group transition to a new line of work and alleviate some related issues, he said.

“So if you put them out of work without any investment in new jobs or in a social support system so that they transition from their job to another job, these race and class and geographical divides are going to grow,” he told The Intercept.

Batinick, who is running for re-election against Mica Freeman in the 97th District, opposes the idea because Chicago is already “cash-strapped."

"Obviously, working people are going to have to pay for this," Batinick said. "This is not a good use of funds."

Pawar’s pilot program would give $500 to 1,000 families each month in Chicago.