PPP Poll: PA Voters Show Support for Higher Minimum Wage

moneyPennsylvanians want a raise.

According to May survey results from the PPP, 41% of voters would be more likely to vote for a legislative candidate if he or she supported raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour. 28% of respondents said that such a stance would make them less likely to vote for a candidate, while 27% said it would make no difference.

The poll also revealed that most voters are willing to absorb the cost of increased wages.

59% of voters would be willing to pay “a little more” for a good or service from a business if it meant that the workers were earning a living wage. Only 26% of voters said they would be unwilling to pay more under those conditions, and 14% were uncertain.

Furthermore, respondents seem to feel it is an ethical imperative for the government to bolster minimum wage laws.

PPP, of course, is a left-leaning polling firm and the wording of the question likely affected the numbers.

Respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the following statement: “When a corporation pays a wage so low that it requires workers to receive government assistance and the corporation refuses to raise their wage for the workers, the government should increase the minimum wage.”

41 percent strongly agreed with the statement, and 26 percent somewhat agreed. 14 and 15 percent somewhat disagreed and strongly disagreed, respectively. 7 percent were unsure.

Of those surveyed, women and minority voters were the most likely to support minimum wage increases. 47% of women “strongly agreed” with the ethical obligation of the government to increase the minimum wage, compared with just 35% of men. By contrast, only 8% of women strongly disagreed with the statement, compared with 21% of men.

Additionally, 67% African American voters came out in strong favor of minimum wage increases, compared to 37% of white voters and 38% of voters of other races.

In keeping with national trends, Democrats were more likely than Republicans to support wage increases. 62% of Democrats strongly agreed with the statement, compared to only 20% of Republicans.

Public Policy Polling surveyed 799 registered voters from May 21st to 24th. The margin of error for the survey is +/- 3.5%. 80% of interviews for the poll were conducted over the phone with 20% interviewed over the internet.

One Response

  1. Well, just because the VOTERS support something, that means nothing to our completely corrupt legislators – who do only what ALEC tells them to do. Same as with Wolf’s budget proposals – which they have already shot down, with no plan of their own. I guess they are waiting for ALEC to tell them what to do.

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