Pa. minimum wage hike backed by some Democratic gubernatorial candidates

    Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has become a source of campaign fodder for the gubernatorial candidates.

    Gov. Tom Corbett recently expressed his reluctance to raise the state’s $7.25 minimum wage, the federal minimum for an hourly wage. He said he fears it would put a damper on Pennsylvania’s economic comeback, and hasn’t expanded on his comments.

    The front-runners among the eight announced Democratic candidates vying for Corbett’s job have voiced support for a wage hike, saying it would boost consumer spending without costing jobs.

    Democratic state lawmakers have made various proposals this year to boost the minimum wage.

    One has called for it to go up by just 10 cents, others have proposed that it increase to $9 or $10.

    One measure would set the minimum wage to rise with inflation.

    New Jersey’s minimum wage will rise to $8.25 on Jan. 1 following voter approval of an amendment to the state Constitution that also pegs yearly increases to inflation.

