Andrew was off in Carbon County so Justin must lead the way in the latest episode of Right 2 Know. He performs marvelously, talking with Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) about the latest on talks to raise the minimum wage, the struggling Harrisburg School District and why technology is ruining us all. Like what you hear? Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.

State lawmakers have found common ground in the past year, tackling issues such as ethics reform, drug addiction and workforce development. Legislators on both sides of the aisle have expressed an interest in even more collaborative efforts, including those that continue to address the ongoing opioid crisis, as well as occupational licensure reform. 

In the past week, a variety of proposals have been introduced in the General Assembly, touching on everything from occupational licensure to criminal justice reform. In this week’s feature, we look at some of the newest proposals introduced in Harrisburg and what they could mean for Pennsylvania citizens.

The state’s minimum wage would rise to $15 by 2025 under a plan unveiled by Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday, despite the fact that past proposals have garnered little to no traction in the General Assembly.

Surrounded by a dozen Democratic lawmakers and a handful of hourly employees who would benefit from the changes, Wolf said it was time Pennsylvania joined neighboring states including Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey in boosting the minimum wage.

It was an opportunity too good to pass up.

As House Democratic leadership elections approached November 13, two of the top positions, Whip and Appropriations Chair, sat open due to retirements of their Western Pennsylvania holders. Meanwhile, Caucus Chair also was vacant as its holder maneuvered for a higher position.

Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) was joined by Rep. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland) and Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) to share their excitement for House Bill 2557 passage by the Senate. 

This bill updates the way municipalities exit Act 47 and enables the city of Harrisburg to continue to balance its budget. Kim stated that the governor has agreed to sign the bill and she is hoping to see it on his desk by the end of this week or next week.