Governor Rendell Congratulates House on Vote to Increase Minimum Wage; Urges Senate to Move Quickly and Concur

GOVERNOR RENDELL CONGRATULATES HOUSE ON VOTE TO INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE; URGES SENATE TO MOVE QUICKLY AND CONCUR

Governor Edward G. Rendell today applauded the members of the House of Representatives who supported HB 257, which paves the way for a long-overdue pay increase for more than 254,000 Pennsylvania working men and women. The bill, which will be sent to the state Senate for consideration, raises the minimum wage to $6.25 an hour in July of this year and increases it again to $7.15 an hour beginning in July of 2007.

"The House's action today sets the stage for a long-overdue pay increase for Pennsylvania's working men and women. Though I believe a cost-of-living adjustment is an important element of this discussion, it has been eight years since we have raised the minimum wage in this nation and, with this vote, we can be proud to finally begin to pull our minimum wage workers out of poverty.

"Business profits are rising and worker productivity is at all-time highs. Since the minimum wage was last increased, the cost of food, clothing, shelter and gas has gone up. With Senate concurrence, we can finally put Pennsylvanians in a position to better afford life's basic necessities.

"This wouldn't have been possible without the vigilance of House Democratic Leaders, most notably Rep. Mike Veon and the bipartisanship of Rep. John Taylor."

Nineteen states - Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin, plus the District of Columbia - currently have minimum wage levels above $5.15 an hour.

The last time Pennsylvania's General Assembly increased the minimum wage was in 1988.

http://www.governor.state.pa.us/governor/cwp/view.asp?a=1115&q=446435