The General Assembly last acted to increase the minimum wage in 2006, and the current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for Pennsylvania workers was established on the federal level in 2009. Since then, the cumulative rate of inflation has increased by more than 50%, leaving the more than 47,000 Pennsylvania workers that earn the minimum wage or less struggling to afford basic necessities like food and housing. Comparatively, the salary for General Assembly members in 2009 was $78,314.66, and our current salaries are $113,591.40. It is shameful that state lawmakers have seen a more than 45% increase in salary over the last 17 years while the minimum wage has remained unchanged.
 
For this reason, we plan to introduce legislation that will increase the minimum wage in Pennsylvania by the same percentage calculated for the salaries of members of the General Assembly. This means that the annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) received by state lawmakers will raise the minimum wage at the same rate. If we are getting a raise from taxpayers, then taxpayers should get a raise, as well.
 
Please join us in sponsoring this legislation to ensure that all working Pennsylvanians will earn a living wage. Low-wage workers are suffering, and policies need to be put in place that will help them. The General Assembly voted to give ourselves automatic and annual raises with public money and we have benefited from this policy for decades. It is time that we afford the same respect to taxpayers.