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By Karen Shuey
Lancaster Online, LNP Newspapers, February 9, 2015

HARRISBURG — The large room in the basement of Grace United Methodist Church, a few blocks from the state Capitol, was packed Monday afternoon ...

Sen. Christine Tartaglione, a Democrat from Philadelphia and prime sponsor of the bill, was joined by the lieutenant governor, some of her colleagues, local business leaders, labor advocates and low-wage workers at the rally to raise the minimum wage. Under the proposed legislation, the state would incrementally raise the minimum wage rate to $10.10 per hour by 2016, after which it would be adjusted automatically with inflation. It also would allow municipalities to set higher minimum wage rates. ...

Lancaster County business owner Charlie Crystle said it's time Pennsylvania catches up. "Employees should earn enough to at least cover basics like housing, food and transportation," Crystle, the CEO of Lancaster Food Company, said to audience members at the rally. "It creates a healthier, more productive, committed workforce. Paying anything less is unethical." ...

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