WELFARE SHOULD NOT BE BETTER ALTERNATIVE THAN WORK, SENATOR O'PAKE SAYS IN LETTER-TO-EDITOR IN SUPPORT OF MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
               

February 10, 2006

Editor
Pottsville Republican & Herald
P.O. Box 209
Pottsville, PA 17910

Sir:

A recent report in your newspaper that “state lawmakers” are hesitant to raise the minimum wage (“Minimum wage needs an increase”, Feb. 7) is correct only in that Republican Senate and House majorities that control legislative action in Harrisburg continually choke off efforts to accomplish what your paper and most Pennsylvanians support.

Democratic senators and representatives believe the poverty subsistence levels of Welfare should not be a better alternative than working for an honest day’s wage. Democrats have worked repeatedly to boost the minimum from the $5.15 set in 1997. Currently, Senate Bill 926 would raise the minimum hourly pay to $6.25 this year and $7.15 in 2007, with an annual COLA after that. All Democratic Senators are sponsors. No Republican is.

Democrats support an increase in the minimum wage as a matter of social justice. Republicans don’t. It’s that simple.

                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                        Michael A. O’Pake
                                                                        Senate Democratic Whip

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