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.

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. 

Check out this week's 3 under 3! 

From discussions about raising minimum wage to new legislation mirroring Gov. Tom Wolf's Restore PA plan to a new report being released with information about Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) and sexual assault claims. 

A top budget negotiator has said a raise to the state’s $7.25 minimum wage “is not on the table” for budget negotiations, though Gov. Tom Wolf remains steadfast in his desire to avoid kicking the topic to the fall. 

Remarks by House Appropriations Chair Stan Saylor (R-York) to The PLS Reporter Monday echo similar statements from Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre) to Capitolwire last week, signaling a key piece of Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal could be put on hold. 

On Tuesday afternoon multiple legislators stood along side Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and advocates to push for the legislature to pass a budget that would include minimum wage raises. 

Fetterman spoke on behalf of himself and Gov. Tom Wolf and stated, "we need $15 an hour for every working person here in Pennsylvania," adding, "there is no dignity in starvation wages."