With budget talks continuing in Harrisburg, members of OnePA and other advocacy groups held rallies across the state to demand a minimum wage increase be included in whatever passes the General Assembly this month.

Introduced with the budget earlier this year, Gov. Tom Wolf (D) offered a bump up to $12 an hour from the current $7.25 and then incremental raises to $15 an hour by 2025. Supporters point to the wage increases by all of Pennsylvania’s neighbors as proof workers need a boost.

The second phase of the state’s Justice Reinvestment Program, which cruised through the Senate with unanimous approval, will likely receive more scrutiny in the House, with the bills likely to remain in committee until fall.

House Judiciary Chair Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin) said his committee will take the summer to review the three-bill package, with a litany of members saying they wanted to ensure the committee learned from the successes and failures of the first installment of JRI, passed in 2012.

A bipartisan duo in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is looking to legalize low-speed, electric scooters for road use, but are facing some insurance-related roadblocks along the way.

 

In a second informational hearing held by the House Transportation Committee Monday, state lawmakers sought answers to how scooter-sharing companies would insure their operations and whether or not scooter riders would be covered in case of accident or other liability.

Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller joined legislators and advocates to call for a raise to the minimum wage to help end the cycle of poverty. 

Pennsylvania has the lowest possible minimum wage under federal law, at $7.25 an hour, but in Governor Tom Wolf's 2019-2020 budget proposal it would be increased to $12 an hour and eventually $15. 

Big League Chew took over legislators' desks before they hit the floor for Monday session, inviting them to the 4th annual Capitol All-Stars softball game.

The Youse led by team Captains Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and House Democratic Leader Rep. Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) will face the Yinz led by Captains Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) once again for a baseball game to strike out hunger in Pennsylvania and raise money for Pennsylvania Food Banks.