Gov. Ed Rendell and other members of the Democratic Party called for the state Legislature to vote on a significant increase in Pennsylvania's minimum wage last week -- a proposal that would raise the minimum wage to $6.25 an hour and eventually to $7.15 an hour by 2007.

Rendell is eager to sign the bill, Rendell's spokesperson Chuck Ardo said.

"The biggest benefit is for low-wage workers who will be able to afford the cost of food, heat, shelter and basic necessities," Ardo said.

The governor is trying to motivate the Legislature to vote on the bill quickly by holding rallies, press conferences and other events concerning the minimum wage increase.

Leaders in Harrisburg have made commitments to the government to put this issue up for vote in the Senate by the end of January, said Barry Ciccocioppo, Department of Labor and Industry press secretary.

"Minimum wage has definitely fallen behind," Charles Tocci, director of communications in the Senate Democratic Caucus, said. "In truth, we are trying to restore the value of minimum wage."

A major factor that has encouraged Rendell are the 18 surrounding states, and Washington, D.C., that have increased the minimum wage recently, Ciccocioppo said.

"The cost of everything has gone up -- it is only fair that low-wage workers get a raise in their incomes," Ardo said.

However, Centre County Republican Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson said he believes the ramifications and consequences of the pay adjustment will only hurt all parties involved.

"I do not believe in the increase of minimum wage," Thompson said. "Businesses will have to cut costs. Personnel will be lost, and it will drive up the cost in industries. It is just another penalization on businesses in Pennsylvania and another reason for people to not do business in Pennsylvania."

Currently, there are about 423,000 people in Pennsylvania making between $5.15 and $7.16 an hour, Ciccocioppo said.

"If an individual making minimum wage and working 40 hours a week makes about $10,712 a year, and if they have just one child, it puts them $2,000 below the poverty level," Ciccocioppo said.

Pennsylvania's minimum wage has not increased since 1997, and with the increase in cost of living, many people are hoping the bill gets passed.

"The increase of the minimum wage is needed. There is not enough to live on making $5.15 an hour. And then with taxes, you end up with about $3," said Nina Labate, an employee of Uni-Mart Center, 1380 W. College Ave.

Bob Shepherd, Centre County Democratic Committee chairman, said he believes that the boost in minimum wage is a positive action in Centre County and should eventually be raised to more than $7.15 an hour.

"Some studies indicate that rather than depressing industry and business in states that adopt living wage legislation, it tends to be neutral or sometimes positive," Shepherd said. "And besides that, there's the moral issue -- people shouldn't be slaves or the equivalent of wage slaves -- not in our country."

However, there are some people who disagree with the raise in wages.

"It is not good for the economy," Tom McKibbin, owner of Dee's Restaurant, 234 E. College Ave., said. "Small businesses who cannot afford to raise the prices of their products are going to suffer. It will also create increasing costs for consumers."

Susan Shields, administrator for State College CareerLink, said she believes there are advantages and disadvantages to raising the minimum wage.

"Business owners may not be able to afford the increase and may have to cut back on staff. It is very hard to set a statewide minimum wage that will be good for everyone," Shields said.