Activists Call For Minimum Wage Increase In Pennsylvania
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - A coalition of activists has announced a campaign to raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania, but they face an uphill battle.
Flanked by legislators and community activists at a state capitol press conference, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale said raising the minimum wage to at least $10.10 an hour for the lowest earning workers will have a positive impact on Pennsylvania's economy.
"They're not going to invest it in banks in the Cayman Islands. They're going to invest it right at home," he said. "They're going to go that fast-food place, they're going to go the restaurant, they're going to go buy some shoes."
But spokesman Erik Arneson says leaders of the Senate majority Republicans traditionally believe and still think minimum wage is an issue best addressed by the federal government.
"Having a consistent national minimum wage is good public policy."
Both Arneson and the spokesman for the House majority leader say there are no plans to move a minimum wage bill as of now.
