Joe Pittman
Coverage of Joe Pittman in the Nexus archive.
- ‘I hope you can live with your consciences’: Pa. minimum wage proposal blocked by Senate GOP
Pennsylvania Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic effort to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour with annual cost-of-living increases. The House had passed the bill, but Senate rules prevented debate on its contents during a procedural vote, leading to a party-line split. Neighboring states have higher minimum wages than Pennsylvania’s current $7.25.
- Here’s how education spending is affecting Pennsylvania’s state budget negotiations
Pennsylvania's state budget negotiations involve Governor Josh Shapiro's proposal to allocate $565 million to address a school funding 'adequacy gap,' while Republicans oppose the formula used to determine funding and advocate for expanding private school scholarship programs. A 2023 court ruling deemed the state's previous school funding approach unconstitutional, prompting legislative action to address inequities.