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Wolf Renews Call For Raise in PA Minimum Wage

Second time’s a charm for the Governor?

Yesterday, Gov. Tom Wolf laid out his proposal to once again raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 an hour on July 1, 2019.

“Pennsylvania must be a place where hard work is rewarded. But our minimum wage hasn’t changed in a decade and too many hardworking people are struggling to get by,” Wolf said. “Raising the minimum wage lets people afford the basics, like food, rent and transportation.

Wolf made calls to raise the minimum wage in his first term, but was unsuccessful.

The current minimum wage in PA is at $7.25 an hour, which is the federal minimum wage.

Wolf’s proposal would increase the state’s minimum wage up to $12 an hour effective the beginning of this July, while the rate gradually increases by 50 cents until it reaches $15 an hour in 2025.

“It also lets people work their way off of public assistance rather than having taxpayers subsidizing employers that are paying poverty wages,” Wolf said. “One fair wage saves tax dollars, grows the middle class and creates new customers for businesses, which benefits all of us.”

Each state bordering Pennsylvania has a minimum wage above the federal minimum, but Wolf’s call for $15 an hour by 2025 would make it tied with New Jersey as the highest in the region. New Jersey recently became the fourth state in the nation that has raised the wage to gradually increase to $15 an hour.

House Speaker Mike Turzai’s office did not immediately respond to comment on the Governor’s proposal.

6 Responses

  1. Seems a bit steep for the minimum. I’d start at $10/hour. But the problem is people should not be stuck there. There should be raises at set intervals for any productive dedicated worker. This should be done voluntarily by employers, and not have to be mandated by the govt.

  2. I’m sorry but I find it hard to believe someone who flips burgers for a livng deserves $15 an hour. If i’m a business, I’d go to automation rather than pay these people $15 hour

    1. Fine. Do automation. But, you can’t expect people to live on less than $15/hour.

      The places repairing broken automation will charge you $200/hour to fix it.

      1. Yea. Because they are SKILLED laborers. They have earned a market to charge that. Flipping burgers should not be a skill you provide a “living wage” to. The MORONS who settle for these minimum wage jobs in hopes of providing a “living wage” should not be encouraged to settle. They should be encouraged to push themselves to become more educated and accomplished in a skill.
        Flipping burgers should be automated. People should not.

  3. I think the big problem folks have is that those who have power to raise the minimum wage are very far away from the reality of it because they are economically better off. The reality is that if you are in a position to really have to know what it feels like to care about the minimum wage you are too busy working 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet and eek out a living. You have little time for yourself and you most likely would have no healthcare were it not for the “affordable care act” ie Obamacare. The question is even with power brokers like the Chamber of Commerce who will do the “fandango” and “twist” and all possible to stop minimum wage increases–there is a moral obligation to reduce suffering or to at least care about others. The Pa minimum wage needs to be adjusted because things are going up and the minimum wage had not for quite awhile. I know the howling from Chamber will go out but it is time that the minimum is increased.

    1. You have a firm grasp of how free markets work.
      Jobs designed for children should not be expected to support a family or living wage. These jobs should encourage people to improve and challenge themselves, going on to better jobs.

      Stopping stumping for the socialists. You sound like someone who just graduated from High School and has no real world experience themselves.

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