From Raise the Wage PA (http://raisethewagepa.org/):
There was an effort to include an increase in the state minimum wage in the state budget discussions lasts month. A bill was moved to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which could have been used as a vehicle to increase the minimum wage during the budget talks. However, when Governor Wolf decided to let the Republican caucuses decide how to raise revenues for the budget, they ignored the option of a higher minimum wage to increase revenues. Wolf had little choice, as last year, the majority Republicans held out for months to maintain control of taxing and revenue decisions.
The good news is that minimum wage legislation has finally moved out of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee, where it sat for almost two years and is now in the Appropriations Committee. There are few session days left this term for a bill to be passed, but the new committee gives us some hope of movement in the Appropriations Committee. The committee’s chair Pat Brown of Allentown, has been a long-time supporter of a $10.10 minimum wage.
The problem is that the bill that moved to the Appropriations Committee (SB 199) only deals with the issue of employers not being able to charge an employee a fee for tips left on a credit card. It is a vehicle to increase the minimum wage, but does not contain specifics, at this time.
Here is a list of Appropriation Committee members. If you are in their districts, please let them know that you want immediate action in September to move a minimum wage bill of at least $10.10/hour with a cost of living escalator, an increase in the tipped minimum wage, and the ability for localities to set their own minimum wages. It is also appropriate to contact the chairs (Sen. Browne and Sen. Hughes) as the chairs with the same request. (If you need to determine who your senator is, go to http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/#address.)
Senate Appropriations Committee Members:
Sen. Pat Browne (R – Lehigh) – Committee Chair – (610) 821-8468
Sen. Kim Ward (R – Westmoreland) – Vice Chair – (724) 600-7002
Sen. David Argall (R – Berks, Schuylkill) – (570) 621-3400
Sen. Lisa Baker (R – Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming ) – (570) 675-3931
Sen. John Eichelberger (R – Blair, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon) – (814) 695-8386
Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R – Bucks, Montgomery) – (215) 657-7700
Sen. Bob Mensch (R – Berks, Bucks, Montgomery) – (215) 368-3117
Sen. Mario Scavello (R – Monroe, Northampton) – (610) 863-1200
Sen. Lloyd Smucker (R – Lancaster) – (717) 397-1309
Sen. Patricia Vance (R – Cumberland, York) – (717) 975-1985
Sen. Elder Vogel (R – Beaver, Butler, Lawrence) – (724) 774-0444
Sen. Randy Vulakovich (R – Allegheny) – (412) 487-6600
Sen. Scott Wagner (R – York) – (717) 846-2828
Sen. Gene Yaw (R – Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union) – (570) 322-6457
Sen. Vincent Hughes (D – Philadelphia) – Minority Chair – (215) 879-7777
Sen. John Blake (D – Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe) – Minority Vice Chair – (570) 207-2881
Sen. James Brewster (D – Allegheny, Westmoreland) – (412) 380-2242
Sen. Daylin Leach (D – Delaware, Montgomery) – (610) 768-4200
Sen. Judith Schwank (D – Berks) – (610) 929-2151
Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D – Philadelphia) – (215) 533-0440
Sen. Rob Teplitz (D – Dauphin, Perry) – (717) 232-2937
Sen. Sean Wiley (D – Erie) – (814) 453-2515
Sen. John Wozniak (D – Bedford, Cambria, Clearfield) – (814) 266-2277
Leave a Reply