This is the second time Gov. Wolf has increased the salary of state workers. In 2016, he raised their minimum wage to $10.20 from $7.25 per hour.
Other state officials, such as the attorney general and the auditor general, were encouraged by Gov. Wolf’s executive order. They implemented a similar action, although most employees in their department are already receiving higher wages.
Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale ordered $15 per hour pay for interns.
Pennsylvania Democrats introduced legislation to raise minimum wage
Last month, Gov. Wolf encouraged Republican lawmakers in the General Assembly to pass a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage. Currently, the minimum wage in Pennsylvania is $7.25 per hour, lower than in surrounding states.
Last year, Democratic State Rep. Patty Kim introduced HB 1520 to raise the minimum wage to $12 per hour this year and then to $15 per hour by 2024.
Earlier this year, Sen. Tartaglione introduced SB 1044, a companion legislation to Rep. Kim’s HB 1520.
