HARRISBURG, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Ahead of his budget address next week, Gov. Tom Wolf is renewing his push for proposals made in previous budget seasons, including an increase in the state's $7.25 per hour minimum wage.
This is, in fact, the sixth time Wolf has proposed an increase in the minimum wage. At an event in the state Capitol launching his newest effort, Wolf said 29 states now have a higher minimum wage than Pennsylvania.
"Is this driving Pennsylvanians across our borders to work jobs in neighboring states? You bet," Wolf said.
In November, the state Senate passed a bill to raise the minimum wage to $8 an hour, with gradual increases to $9.50 an hour, but the bill stalled in the House. The governor, meanwhile, is again proposing an increase to $12, then an eventual $15 an hour.
Wolf is also renewing his call for action on Restore Pennsylvania. That proposal, rolled out a year ago, would tax natural gas extraction and use the proceeds to borrow billions of dollars for infrastructure projects.
