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The PA House approves bills for $15/hr min. wage and tax credits, but opposition looms in Senate
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette link: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2023/06/20/pa-bills-minimum-wage-tax-credits-house/stories/202306200092
HARRISBURG — The Democrat-controlled House on Tuesday passed two priorities of Gov. Josh Shapiro — tax credits for new nurses, teachers and police officers and an increase in the state minimum wage — but opposition looms in the Republican-controlled Senate.
Mr. Shapiro, a Democrat in the midst of his first set of budget negotiations with a divided Legislature, promoted both concepts in his March 7 budget address. The two bills passed Tuesday now go to the Senate, where Republican Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, has voiced criticism.
Asked on Tuesday about the House bill that boosts the minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2026 from its current level of $7.25, Mr. Pittman said a deal might be negotiated, but $15 an hour “is not reasonable and is not viable.”
The tax credits bill would give new nurses, teachers and police officers credits of up to $2,500 a year for three years. Rep. Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery and leader of his caucus, said the idea was “wildly popular” and any vote against it was one against nurses, teachers and police officers. Rep. Seth Grove, R-York and the top Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, said the bill differed from Mr. Shapiro’s original proposal and was “not ready for prime time.”
Mr. Shapiro, a Democrat in the midst of his first set of budget negotiations with a divided Legislature, promoted both concepts in his March 7 budget address. The two bills passed Tuesday now go to the Senate, where Republican Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, has voiced criticism.
Asked on Tuesday about the House bill that boosts the minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2026 from its current level of $7.25, Mr. Pittman said a deal might be negotiated, but $15 an hour “is not reasonable and is not viable.”
The tax credits bill would give new nurses, teachers and police officers credits of up to $2,500 a year for three years. Rep. Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery and leader of his caucus, said the idea was “wildly popular” and any vote against it was one against nurses, teachers and police officers. Rep. Seth Grove, R-York and the top Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, said the bill differed from Mr. Shapiro’s original proposal and was “not ready for prime time.”
- more at link -
The Governor made these 2 issues part of his campaign last year, and I don't think he's likely to "deal" anything on these.
