By rssfeeds-admin 
At $7.25, Pennsylvania has the lowest minimum wage in the Mid-Atlantic region – a fact that isn’t set to change any time soon unless Pennsylvania’s senators vote to finally increase it.
A vote on HB 2189 to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour cleared the Pennsylvania House on Tuesday 104-95 – mostly along party lines with Democrats supporting the move and most Republicans voting against it.
“The Pennsylvania House has done its job and passed legislation to raise the minimum wage. Now is the time for the Senate Republicans to finally follow suit,” said Bucks County state Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10) in an email.
Bucks County Republican State Representatives Shelby Labs, R-Plumstead, Craig Staats, R-Richland and Kristin Marcell, R-Richboro all voted against the wage hike. All three are running for reelection in November.
HB 2189 was co-sponsored by Bucks County state Reps. Perry Warren, D-Yardley and Tina Davis, D-Bristol Township. The bill received some bipartisan support from Bucks County lawmakers in the House at the March 24 vote.
In addition to Warren and Davis, other Bucks County lawmakers who voted for the wage increase include: Tim Brennan, D-Doylestown, Brian Munroe, D-Warminster, Jim Prokopiak, D-Falls; Joe Hogan, R-Penndel and Kathleen Tomlinson, R-Bensalem.
The bill must now pass the Republican-controlled state senate.
“Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 since 2009 – less than every one of our neighboring states. Our failure to act on this issue is making us less competitive and leaving our workers behind,” Santarsiero said.
Santarsiero added the House has passed a wage increase plan three times; while the senate has failed to act.
“The path forward is clear. It’s time for Senate Republican leadership to bring this bill up for a vote and do right by Pennsylvania workers and families,” Santarsiero said.
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