PLAINS TOWNSHIP -- Governor Tom Wolf is calling on state legislators to raise the minimum wage by nearly three dollars, bumping it up to $10.15 an hour. He dropped by the Wilkes-Barre area Thursday morning at a business with a starting wage even higher than that.
Earlier this month, the governor raised the minimum wage to $10.15 for state government employees and workers on jobs contracted by the state.
This morning, he called on legislators to increase the minimum wage for every working Pennsylvanian.
The governor made the announcement at Simon Arias Agencies, a life insurance company on Route 315 in Plains Township.
The starting wage there is $15 an hour, more than double the state's current minimum wage.
A regional manager says it's been crucial to attract better workers.
"Honest to God, at the end of the day, it comes down to increasing employee turnover. We get better performance from the employees there as well," said Michael Clemente, Simon Arias Agencies manager.
Now the governor hopes the success of business like this prompts legislators to increase the state's minimum wage.
"It'll do good things for our economy and it's the right thing to do. It's the smart thing to do from a business point of view," said Governor Wolf.
Newswatch 16 also asked the governor about his platform for imposing a severance tax on the gas industry. It appears the gas boom in our area may be over, and the industry could even be struggling. Wolf still hopes to pass a shale tax.
"We're the only major natural gas producing state in the United States without a shale tax. It hasn't affected them too much in the other states. I'm, not sure why it would affect us here," Wolf said.
Governor Wolf also told Newswatch 16 he is supporting Hilary Clinton for president.
