Valley legislators divided on minimum wage bill
By Liam Belan
lbelan@yourmvi.com
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives narrowly approved a measure Tuesday that would incrementally raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2026.
The House, which holds a Democratic majority, voted 103-100 to pass the bill as all but one Democrat voted in support of the bill while two Republicans joined them.
The bill looks to fulfill a long-term goal of state Democrats that has been shut down by previous Republican majorities in the House, but the Republican-majority Senate could affect those plans.
With the start of the new fiscal year approaching July 1, l awmakers and Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro have honed in on budget legislation.
The state’s current minimum wage is at the federal minimum of $7.25. It last increased in 2009. The approved bill proposes a change from $7.25 to $11 in its first year, then a jump to $13 in 2025 before moving to $15 in 2026. Future increases to the wage will be tied to inflation, which supporters say mimics action taken by 15 other states.
The bill also proposes to bring tipped wage to 60% of the minimum wage from the current $2.83 an hour.
Local state Representatives Bud Cook, R-West Pike Run Township, Eric Davanzo, R-Smithton and Andrew Kuzma, R-Elizabeth Township, voted against the bill while McKeesport Democrat Matt Gergely voted in support.
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