Pennsylvania has not raised the minimum wage in fourteen years. It stands at a meager $7.25/hour, which would add up to an annual salary of a paltry $15,080.00. Many people believe that the current minimum wage is not a livable wage. A wage of $7.25/hour is below the poverty line.
Considering expenditures for food, childcare, healthcare, transportation, housing, and other basic necessities, a livable wage would in the U.S. in 2019 was $16.54/hour or $68,808 annually before taxes for a family of four (two adults and two children).
In years past, many bills have attempted to change the minimum wage, but none have escaped the mostly Republican-controlled PA legislature. Now, the Democrats control the House and have passed House Bill 1500 to raise PA's minimum wage to $15/hour by the year 2026. The legislation would also increase the tipped wage to 60% of the minimum wage from the current $2.83 an hour.
The minimum wage would jump to $11/hour in January 2024, $13/hour the January after that, and by New Year’s Day 2026, it would finally reach $15/hour.
“I have introduced a wage bill every session,” said State Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin/Cumberland Counties).
Kim has put maximum effort into the minimum wage for a decade. The movement of the bill is exciting, but she says delaying $15 for three more years is too slow.
“After the ten years of being in the minority and having scars to prove it, I have had to come to the realization that something is better than nothing. And I hate to say that. I hate to tell that to the wait, the hardworking people out there,” Kim added.
“Everyone deserves to make a living wage. The problem is, is that you know, this is government telling business what to do. And I believe in the free market,” said Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny County).
Republicans believe that raising the minimum wage is government intrusion and that in the long run, it will only hurt businesses and the lowest wage earners by forcing businesses to cut hours, fire employees, or close for good.
“When we look at other states, every time you do raise that minimum wage, there are negative impacts in terms of job losses, especially in places like the restaurant and hospitality industries,” added Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh County).
Considering other states, Pennsylvania has the lowest minimum wage of all its surrounding states. Doesn't that make Pennsylvania look bad?
According to Rep. Gaydos, “What are your parents always saying when you grow up? If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump off a bridge also?” asked Gaydos.
House Bill 1500 is going to face a great deal of scrutiny in the Republican-controlled PA Senate. It may be difficult to get Republican Senators on board. Majority Leader, Joe Pittman, did not immediately shut the idea down. Instead, he said this:
“The minimum wage, I think, is a conversation to be had. But I can tell you that $15 an hour is not a practical number in any way to get to,” Pittman said.
Kim concedes that there are very few people making minimum wage, but believes it's important, nonetheless.
“I am so glad to see businesses raising it up to $15 an hour, but we have to make sure that floor is secure so it doesn’t fall back down and people fall into this vortex of painful poverty,” Kim said.
Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro campaigned on raising the minimum wage to $15/hour, so if this bill reaches his desk, he would, without a doubt, sign it into law. But without more Republican support, it is doubtful that this bill will make it very far.
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