Tom Wolf

Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday called for an increase in the state’s minimum wage.

The proposal — which faces a steep, uphill climb in the General Assembly — would raise the rate to $12 this summer and 50 cents each year up to $15 in 2027.

Wolf noted the $7.25 rate in place now hasn’t been increase in over 10 years and is “not a livable wage.”

He said the increase would result in raises for 1.1 million Pennsylvanians and emphasized the belief that no one working full time should live in poverty. COVID-19, he added, highlighted “how critical the jobs (are that) our essentially workers perform.”

“Pennsylvania workers are being left behind,” he said. “All of us are suffering for it.”

He said the increase would boost consumer spending as well as decrease job turnover, save tax dollars and help communities.

Here in Warren County, the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry is uniquely positioned — they work directly with businesses but also to support workers, such as with the upcoming closure of the Irvine Distribution Center.

“A mandated increase in minimum wage is not a good thing for anyone,” Jim Decker, WCCBI president/CEO said.

“There is no question that there would be immediate reduction in employment nationally and inflation which would overshadow the increase in hourly rate,” he added.

Wolf said that the current minimum wage has 17 percent less purchasing power than it did when it was instituted in 2009.

In a statement from the governor’s office, the increase in the minimum wage is tied to a “historic tax cut for

millions of workers by making the tax system for those who need the help.”

His proposal would result in 2.8 million Pennsylvanians seeing a tax cut averating $536 per year, 767,000 of whom will pay nothing.