HARRISBURG, Oct. 21, 2015 – Following up on her promise to force a vote on her bill to increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, state Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today submitted her discharge petition on Senate Bill 195.
Tartaglione said she planned to introduce the petition during a Sept. 30 press conference. However, she delayed that course of action after Republican lawmakers said they would work with her on the bill.
“But there has been no alternative solution, and there has been little movement since then,” Tartaglione said today. “So, today, I told the full Senate I am formally submitting my discharge petition on my Senate Bill 195 to increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $10.10.”
The discharge petition gives the Senate 10 legislative days to consider Sen. Tartaglione’s request. SB 195 has been in the Senate Labor & Industry Committee since Jan. 28.
“We must, as a body, act on this proposal now. We must, for the wellbeing of Pennsylvania businesses and workers and taxpayers, act on this proposal now. We’ve waited too long,” Tartaglione said. “Pennsylvania is becoming third world while our neighbors and many other states move to raise hourly compensation to more appropriate levels.”
Of the Northeast U.S. states with a minimum wage, Pennsylvania’s base hourly rate of $7.25 is the lowest paid to hourly workers.
Maryland’s minimum wage is $8.25 and is set to increase in stages to $10.10 by July 2018. New Jersey’s minimum wage is $8.38 but it is now indexed to the Consumer Price Index. New York’s base hourly rate is $8.75 and is going to $9 at the end of this year, while Gov. Andrew Cuomo is fighting for a $15 minimum. Ohio is paying $8.10 an hour and will pay more when the CPI is adjusted. West Virginia’s $8 minimum wage is set to hit $8.75 after Christmas. Finally, Delaware is paying $8.25.
“Do not let calamity-howling executives who make $10,000 a day tell you that a wage of $404 a week is going to hurt their bottom lines. It’s time to help Pennsylvania workers get a raise,” the senator said as she formally submitted her discharge petition.
Twenty-nine states and Washington D.C. pay more than the Pennsylvania/federal minimum of $7.25.
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