Working families in Pennsylvania are getting a raise. The minimum wage in Pennsylvania will increase from the current $5.15 per hour to $6.25 on Jan. 1, 2007, then to $7.15 on July 1, 2007. Qualified employers with the equivalent of 10 or fewer full-time employees have until July 1, 2008, to implement the change.
Minimum wage supporters contend that many Pennsylvanians depend on minimum wage jobs to earn their living and therefore deserve a “living wage.” The initial intent of the minimum wage was to keep families out of poverty. From 1966 to the early 1980s, the federal minimum wage law accomplished that. However, that has not been the case in recent years. It is unfair to expect a parent to work a full-time job and not be able to pay for even the essentials of life. A minimum wage earner working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks currently earns $10,712 a year or $5,888 less than the 2006 poverty guidelines for a family of three. For a family of four, the poverty guideline is $20,000. A minimum wage worker with a family falls far beneath the federal poverty guidelines.
Opponents contend that raising the state’s minimum wage will result in a loss of jobs as employers will be forced to raise wages across the board. Thus, it will leave fewer dollars to hire new employees. They also note that minimum wage jobs are taken primarily by high school students or by someone who already has a more lucrative full-time job and is just supplementing his or her income. They argue that raising the minimum wage could prompt employers to move their businesses out of Pennsylvania to a state with more favorable wage laws or could result outsourcing abroad.
The Catholic Church has no specific doctrine on whether the state should increase the minimum wage; but, papal encyclicals for the past 100 years clearly state that workers have a right to receive a just wage – “one that is sufficient to support a person and his/her family in reasonable and frugal comfort” (Pope Leo XIII). “The wage paid to the working man must be sufficient for the support of himself and his family” (Pope Pius XII). Perhaps section 2434 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes it best by stating, “A just wage is the legitimate fruit of work. To refuse or withhold it can be a grave injustice. In determining fair pay both the needs and the contributions of each person must be taken into account. Remuneration for work should guarantee man an opportunity to provide a dignified livelihood for himself and his family on the material, social, cultural and spiritual level, taking into account the role and the productivity of each, the state of the business and the common good. Agreement between the parties is not sufficient to justify morally the amount to be received in wages.”
Based upon the social teachings of the Church, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC) supported this minimum wage increase.
The following legislators from within this diocese voted in support of the minimum wage bill: (EDITOR’S NOTE: insert names from your diocese)
ALLENTOWN DIOCESE
Senators Lisa M. Boscola (Northampton County); Patrick M. Browne (Lehigh County); Raphael J. Musto (Luzerne County); Michael A. O’Pake (Berks County); John C. Rafferty, Jr. (Chester County); James J. Rhoades (Schuylkill County); Robert C. Wonderling (Montgomery County); Representatives Bob Allen (Schuylkill County); David G. Argall (Schuylkill County); Karen D. Beyer (Lehigh County); Thomas R. Caltagirone (Berks County); Craig A. Dally (Northampton County); Robert L. Freeman (Northampton County); Neal P. Goodman (Schuylkill County); Richard T. Grucela (Northampton County); Julie Harhart (Northampton County); Jennifer L. Mann (Lehigh County); Keith R. McCall (Carbon County); Sheila M. Miller (Berks County); Douglas G. Reichley (Lehigh County); T.J. Rooney (Northampton County); Steve Samuelson (Northampton County); Dante Santoni, Jr. (Berks County); and Paul W. Semmel (Lehigh County)
ALTOONA-JOHNSTOWN DIOCESE
Senators Jacob D. Corman, III (Centre County); Robert C. Jubelirer (Blair County); Richard A. Kasunic (Fayette County); John N. Wozniak (Cambria County); Representatives Kerry A. Benninghoff (Centre County); Richard Allen Geist (Blair County); Gary Haluska (Cambria County); Michael K. Hanna, Sr. (Clinton County); Lynn B. Herman (Centre County); Dick Lee Hess (Bedford County); Larry O. Sather (Huntingdon County); Edward Wojnaroski, Sr. (Cambria County); and Thomas F. Yewcic (Cambria County)
ERIE DIOCESE
Senators Robert D. Robbins (Mercer County); Joseph B. Scarnati (Jefferson County); John N. Wozniak (Cambria County); Representatives Linda Bebki-Jones (Erie County); Martin T. Causer (McKean County); John R. Evans (Erie County); Florindo J. Fabrizio, Jr. (Erie County); Camile E. George (Clearfield County); Matthew W. Good (Erie County); Michael C. Gruitza (Mercer County); Fred McIlhattan (Clarion County); Samuel H. Smith (Jefferson County); and Dan A. Surra (Elk County)
GREENSBURG DIOCESE
Senators James Ferlo (Allegheny County); Richard A. Kasunic (Fayette County); Sean F. Logan (Allegheny County); J. Barry Stout (Washington County); Representatives James E. Casorio, Jr. (Westmoreland County); Peter J. Daley, II (Washington County); H. William DeWeese (Greene County); R. Ted Harhai (Westmoreland County); Joseph F. Markosek (Allegheny County); Fred McIhattan (Clarion County); John E. Pallone (Westmoreland County); Joseph A. Petrarca (Westmoreland County); Jeffrey P. Pyle (Armstrong County); Dave Reed (Indiana County); Lawrence Roberts (Fayette County); Samuel H. Smith (Jefferson County); Jess M. Stairs (Westmoreland County); and Thomas A. Tangretti (Westmoreland County).
HARRISBURG DIOCESE
Senators Jacob D. Corman, III, (Centre County); John R. Gordner (Northumberland County); Robert C. Jubelirer (Blair County); Terry L. Punt (Franklin County); Patricia H. Vance (Cumberland County); Michael L. Waugh (York County); Representatives Robert E. Belfanti, Jr., (Northumberland County); Kerry A. Benninghoff (Centre County); Ronald I. Buxton (Dauphin County); Russell H. Fairchild (Union County); Patrick E. Fleagle (Franklin County); Adam C. Harris (Juniata County); George C. Hasay (Luzerne County); Mark S. McNaughton (Dauphin County); David Millard (Columbia County); Jerry L. Nailor (Cumberland County); John D. Payne (Dauphin County); Merle H. Phillips (Northumberland County); Larry O. Sather (Huntingdon County); Stephen H. Stetler (York County); P. Michael Sturla (Lancaster County); and Katie True (Lancaster County).
PHILADELPHIA ARCHDIOCESE
Senators Joe Conti (Bucks County); Andrew Dinniman (Chester County); Edwin B. Erickson (Delaware County); Vincent J. Fumo (Philadelphia County); Stewart J. Greenleaf (Montgomery County); Vincent J. Hughes (Philadelphia County); Shirley M. Kitchen (Philadelphia County); Dominic F. Pileggi (Chester County); John C. Rafferty, Jr. (Chester County); Michael J. Stack, III (Philadelphia County); Christine M. Tartaglione (Philadelphia County); Robert M. Tomlinson (Bucks County); Leanna M. Washington (Philadelphia County); Anthony H. Williams (Philadelphia County); Robert C. Wonderling (Montgomery County); Representatives William F. Adolph, Jr. (Delaware County); Stephan E. Barrar (Delaware County); Louise Williams Bishop (Philadelphia County); Thomas W. Blackwell, IV (Philadelphia County); Raymond Bunt, Jr. (Montgomery County); Mario J. Civera, Jr. (Delaware County); Mark B. Cohen (Philadelphia County); Susan E. Cornell (Montgomery County); Thomas C. Corrigan, Sr. (Bucks County); Jacqueline R. Crahalla (Montgomery County); Angel Cruz (Philadelphia County); Lawrence H. Curry (Montgomery County); Gene DiGirolamo (Bucks County); Robert C. Donatucci (Philadelphia County); Dwight D. Evans (Philadelphia County); John W. Fichter (Montgomery County); Thomas P. Gannon (Delaware County); Michael F. Gerber (Montgomery County); Robert W. Godshall (Montgomery County); Kate M. Harper (Montgomery County); Tim Hennessey (Chester County); Arthur D. Hershey (Chester County); Harold James (Philadelphia County); Babette Josephs (Philadelphia County); William F. Keller (Philadelphia County); George T. Kenney, Jr. (Philadelphia County); Thomas H. Killion (Delaware County); Thaddeus Kirkland (Delaware County); Daylin Leach (Montgomery County); Marie A. Lederer (Philadelphia County); Kathy M. Manderino (Philadelphia County); Michael P. McGeehan (Philadelphia County); Eugene F. McGill (Montgomery County); Charles T. McIlhinney, Jr. (Bucks County); Anthony J. Melio (Bucks County); Nicholas A. Micozzie (Delaware County); John L. Myers (Philadelphia County); Dennis M. O’Brien (Philadelphia County); Frank L. Oliver (Philadelphia County); Bernard T. O’Neill (Bucks County); Cherelle Parker (Philadelphia County); John M. Perzel (Philadelphia County); Scott A. Petri (Bucks County); Thomas J. Quigley (Montgomery County); Ronald C. Raymond (Delaware County); James R. Roebuck, Jr. (Philadelphia County); Chris Ross (Chester County); Carole A. Rubley (Chester County); John P. Sabatina, Jr. (Philadelphia County); Joshua Shapiro (Montgomery County); David J. Steil (Bucks County); Elinor Z. Taylor (Chester County); John J. Taylor (Philadelphia County); W. Curtis Thomas (Philadelphia County); Greg Vitali (Delaware County); Ronald G. Waters (Philadelphia County); Katherine M. Watson (Bucks County); Jewell Williams (Philadelphia County); Matthew N. Wright (Bucks County); and Rosita C. Youngblood (Philadelphia County).
PITTSBURGH DIOCESE
Senators Jay Costa, Jr. (Allegheny County); James Ferlo (Allegheny County); Wayne Fontana (Allegheny County); Gerald J. LaVelle (Beaver County); Sean F. Logan (Allegheny County); Robert D. Robbins (Mercer County); J. Barry Stout (Washington County); Representatives Vince Biancucci (Beaver County); Paul Costa (Allegheny County); Peter J. Daley, II (Washington County); Anthony M. DeLuca (Allegheny County); Frank Dermody (Allegheny County); H. William DeWeese (Greene County); Michael Diven (Allegheny County); Shawn Flaherty (Allegheny County); Dan B. Frankel (Allegheny County); Marc J. Gergely (Allegheny County); Nick Kotik (Allegheny County); Frank LaGrotta (Lawrence County); Victor J. Lescovitz (Washington County); John A. Maher (Allegheny County); Joseph F. Markosek (Allegheny County); T. Mark Mustio (Allegheny County); Thomas C. Petrone (Allegheny County); Frank J. Pistella (Allegheny County); Joseph Preston, Jr. (Allegheny County); Sean M. Ramaley (Beaver County); Kenneth W. Ruffing (Allegheny County); Christopher Sainato (Lawrence County); Timothy J. Solobay (Washington County); Michael R. Veon (Beaver County); Don Walko (Allegheny County); and Jake Wheatley (Allegheny County).
SCRANTON DIOCESE
Senators Lisa M. Boscola (Northampton County); John R. Gordner (Northumberland County); Charles D. Lemmond, Jr. (Luzerne County); Robert J. Mellow (Lackawanna County); Raphael J. Musto (Luzerne County); James J. Rhoades (Schuylkill County); Joseph B. Scarnati, III (Jefferson County); Representatives Matthew E. Baker (Tioga County); Fred Belardi (Lackawanna County); Kevin Blaum (Luzerne County); Steven W. Cappelli (Lycoming County); Gaynor Cawley (Lackawanna County); Todd A. Eachus (Luzerne County); Brett O. Feese (Lycoming County); George C. Hasay (Luzerne County); Phyllis Mundy (Luzerne County); Tina Pickett (Bradford County); Mario M. Scavello (Philadelphia County); John J. Siptroth (Monroe County); Edward G. Staback (Lackawanna County); Thomas M. Tigue (Luzerne County); Jim Wansacz (Lackawanna County); and John T. Yudichak (Luzerne County).
(498 words + list of legislators)
PCC Column July 2006 by Amy Beisel, Communications Director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference – the public affairs arm of Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops and the Catholic dioceses of Pennsylvania.
