QUOTE
Rendell: No pay raise for lawmakers without minimum-wage boost
6/7/2005, 6:11 p.m. ET
By MARTHA RAFFAELE
The Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday he favors increasing state judges' pay "no matter what," but would not approve a raise for state lawmakers unless they agreed to boost the state's minimum wage.
Rendell's comments came amid speculation that lawmakers might revive a plan to increase salaries of judges, top executive-branch appointees and future legislators. The state constitution says legislative raises cannot take effect until the next legislature takes office.
Lawmakers considered the proposal in November — shortly after most were re-elected and less than two weeks before taking the oaths of office that would have qualified them to receive the raises right away — but the proposal was left in limbo amid stalemates involving mass transit and other issues. Rendell injected the minimum wage issue at a gathering of senior citizens.
"If they're interested in revisiting the pay raise bill, they have to make it clear to me that they'd approve a minimum-wage increase," Rendell told reporters after speaking before about 2,000 AARP members outside the Capitol.
Pennsylvania's minimum wage is currently the same as the $5.15 per hour rate set by the federal government. Rendell said he favors increasing it to $7.15 "over a course of time."
6/7/2005, 6:11 p.m. ET
By MARTHA RAFFAELE
The Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday he favors increasing state judges' pay "no matter what," but would not approve a raise for state lawmakers unless they agreed to boost the state's minimum wage.
Rendell's comments came amid speculation that lawmakers might revive a plan to increase salaries of judges, top executive-branch appointees and future legislators. The state constitution says legislative raises cannot take effect until the next legislature takes office.
Lawmakers considered the proposal in November — shortly after most were re-elected and less than two weeks before taking the oaths of office that would have qualified them to receive the raises right away — but the proposal was left in limbo amid stalemates involving mass transit and other issues. Rendell injected the minimum wage issue at a gathering of senior citizens.
"If they're interested in revisiting the pay raise bill, they have to make it clear to me that they'd approve a minimum-wage increase," Rendell told reporters after speaking before about 2,000 AARP members outside the Capitol.
Pennsylvania's minimum wage is currently the same as the $5.15 per hour rate set by the federal government. Rendell said he favors increasing it to $7.15 "over a course of time."
http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/pa/index...&storylist=penn