Gov. Wolf’s push to raise Pa. minimum wage gaining Republican support

PITTSBURGH — Two Republican senators are on board with the governor’s plans to increase the state’s minimum wage.

But some business owners feel that the timing of an increase after a painful year for them because of the pandemic, is a bad idea.

Pennsylvania is currently tied with Virginia in having the country’s lowest minimum wage allowed by federal law. However, simply raising the hourly rate is something South Side business owner Matt Voelker said would hurt everyone in the long run.

He told Channel 11 an increase now would only put businesses like his behind the eight ball even more. He said raising the minimum wage will only make the food he serves more expensive.

“We’re gonna have to bump our prices up again, and that might piss off some customers,” Voelker said.

Republican Sen. Dan Laughlin said he supports raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour, and he assured it wouldn’t be an overnight change to allow businesses to stabilize. Wolf is pushing for $15, but Laughlin thinks that is too much too quickly.

“I think by the time this bill makes it to the governor’s desk, restaurants will have been fully opened for some time. And I also think there’s some pent up demand for people to go out to dinner, travel and do things like that,” Laughlin said.

The senator’s proposal would also permanently index the $10 minimum wage to inflation -- meaning it would increase according to inflation each year.

Gov. Wolf’s office issued this statement related to the push for a $15 minimum wage:

“The pandemic has made raising the state’s low minimum wage more crucial than ever. Thousands of Pennsylvanians are struggling to buy food and avoid homelessness, and many of the essential workers who we all rely on are among the lowest paid workers and they can’t get by. Their work helps us put food on our tables, but in too many cases those workers can’t afford it themselves.

Creating a path to $15 will:

• Raise the incomes of more than 1.1 million Pennsylvania workers
• Provide better stability for women, rural and tipped workers
• Allow thousands of people to work their way off public assistance
• Put $4.4 billion in the pockets of Pennsylvania workers in the first year, an important boost for our state and local economies as we recover from the pandemic.

There are eight states on a path to $15, including Florida, a red state. It’s time for Pennsylvania to also stand up for our workers.”

Pennsylvania officials have eyes set on 2 increases to minimum wage

Cox Media Group