SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- But Brady stopped short Friday of saying he would roll back the state wage -- which will go to $8.25 an hour July 1 -- if elected in November.

The state senator from Bloomington says the federal wage of $7.25 should be uniform across the nation so that states with lower rates than Illinois' don't steal jobs away.

A Democratic-controlled Legislature and governor adopted a four-year process that upped the state wage each year. This year's bump is the final step.

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn said earlier this week he "fought hard" for the wage increases.