Wolf calls proposed jump in Pennsylvania minimum wage, to $10.10 an hour, legislative priority

Gov. Tom Wolf said Tuesday that passage of a higher minimum wage in Pennsylvania is one of his priorities in the current legislative session.

Wolf said he backs a bill sponsored by Rep. Patty Kim, a Dauphin County Democrat, to boost the state minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour over two years. He made the comment at an impromptu news briefing at a downtown hotel where he spoke during a closed-door meeting of union leaders sponsored by the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.

"A floor on compensation is an important macroeconomic thing," the Democratic governor said. "It makes the market stronger, makes the free market work better."

Wolf said Pennsylvania's minimum wage has not been increased for years.

"I think it's time to do something," he said.

The federal minimum wage has stood at $7.25 an hour since 2009, and President Obama is leading the drive to increase the hourly standard to $10.10.