HARRISBURG, PA — In what she calls an effort to provide low-income earners with a livable wage, Pennsylvania State Rep. Patty Kim announced on November 15 she will introduce a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage.

Kim’s bill would increase the minimum wage to $9 per hour and then to $10.10 per hour a year later.

“The current minimum wage, $7.25 per hour, simply does not provide a livable wage,” Kim said. “For example, a single mother with two children who works 40 hours per week, for 52 weeks a year, makes $15,080. This is $4,500 below the poverty line, which is $19,530 for a household of three.”

Increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour would boost the earnings of a full-time worker by more than $5,900 to $21,008, which would be enough to move a family of three out of poverty. Kim said the effects of the low wage are especially felt by women, who account for two-thirds of workers earning minimum wage.

“As the economy continues to sputter, many people, especially single mothers, are struggling to pay bills, put food on their tables and provide for their families,” Kim said.