For Immediate Release
June 23, 2006
Back

Senate Passes Legislation to Increase Minimum Wage, Protect Small Business

The state Senate passed legislation today to increase the state's minimum wage while including provisions to protect small businesses, according to Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks).

Senate Bill 1090 would increase the minimum wage from the current rate of $5.15 to $6.25 on January 1, 2007, followed by another increase to $7.15 in July 2007. To reduce the burden on Pennsylvania's small businesses, the bill also includes a lower minimum wage for businesses with the equivalent of 10 full-time employees or less, as well as a lower minimum wage for workers age 17 and younger.

"We needed to balance the interests of the workers who are struggling and the small businesses who must pay those wages but more importantly keep those jobs," Tomlinson said. " This is a diverse state and we have come together to do something important for our wage earners and our business throughout the Commonwealth."

Pennsylvania's increase would put the state on a par with New York and New Jersey, which will have a $7.15 per hour minimum wage by next year.

The bill also includes a provision to prohibit any municipality from creating its own minimum wage rule.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

CONTACT:

Fran Cleaver
(717)787-5072