Latest news with #ChristopherRabb
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Changes proposed to Pennsylvania's minimum wage statutes
(WHTM) — A bill circulating in the State House proposes changes to Pennsylvania's minimum wage laws. The bill, proposed by State Rep. Christopher Rabb (D-200), aims to fundamentally improve the application of minimum wage principles to ensure they are more broadly and fairly applied. According to the memo, the bill proposes making critical updates to the definition of 'employee,' strengthening protections against wage theft, and extending eligibility for the minimum wage to classes of workers who are 'historically and unfairly excluded from the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.' Rep. Rabb's memo says the bill will abolish the sub-minimum tipped wage that 'subsidizes corporations that profit from providing poverty wages to their employees at the expense of taxpaying customers.' The bill would ensure that gratuities are the sole property of the employee and that none of the wages are taken by an employer for processing fees. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The memo adds that the bill would also repeal the state preemption of municipal or county ordinances to set minimum wage standards, empowering local governments to enact minimum wage provisions that best reflect their community's needs. Further, Rep. Rabb's memo says the bill would expand eligibility for the minimum wage in our Commonwealth to people who have been historically disenfranchised and excluded from labor laws, including 'incarcerated, domestic, agricultural, neurodivergent, youth, and gig workers.' The bill has not been submitted for introduction yet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania looks to move to ‘National Popular Vote' over electoral college vote
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — Two Pennsylvania Representatives have introduced a bill that would elect a presidential candidate based on popular vote instead of electoral college votes. The bill, authored by Reps. Christopher Rabb and Heather Boyd, argue that there is a fundamental contradiction between the 'one-person, one-vote' principle in American democracy and the electoral college. This contradiction lies in the fact that twice in recent presidential elections, five times in U.S. history total, the winner of the electoral college received fewer total votes than their opponent. 'Every voter, of every party, should have an equal voice in presidential elections,' Rabb said. 'This is the fundamental principle that our democracy builds on – that every vote counts equally. Not that some votes count more than others. It is time for PA to join other states in ensuring that every vote counts equally.' The bill would move Pennsylvania to a 'popular vote system,' joining 17 other states and the District of Columbia in the National Popular Vote movement. The Representatives argue that Pennsylvania voters should feel as though they play a meaningful role by electing the president by National Popular Vote. If passed, the legislation would guarantee the presidency to the candidate who wins the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and would take effect when states with 270 electoral votes have passed the bill. The National Popular Vote bill has a total of 209 electoral, with Pennsylvania offering 19. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed bill would move Pennsylvania to a popular vote system
(WHTM) — Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced a bill to the Pennsylvania House that would move the state to a popular vote system. State Representatives Christopher Rabb (D-200) and Heather Boyd (D-163) reintroduced House Bill 270, which would have Pennsylvania join 17 other states and the District of Columbia in having a popular vote system. According to the PA House Democratic Caucus, the bill aims to have Pennsylvania join other states in guaranteeing the presidency to the candidate who wins the most popular votes in all 50 states. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'Every voter of every party should have an equal voice in presidential elections,' said Rep. Rabb, the bill's author. 'This is the fundamental principle that our democracy builds on – that every vote counts equally. Not that some votes count more than others. It is time for PA to join other states in ensuring that every vote counts equally.' The Caucus argues that having the popular vote system is the best way to guarantee Pennsylvania plays an important role in every election. According to the memo, this agreement would only take effect when states possessing a majority of electoral votes (270) adopt the same agreement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Proposed bill would protect Pennsylvania pollinators, plants
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A Pennsylvania representative shared a memo of a soon-to-be-introduced bill that would work to protect bees, other pollinators and the environment. In a memo, Representative Christopher Rabb (D-Philadelphia County) shared his plan to introduce the Plant and Pollinator Act. About 80% of our crops rely on insect pollination. Honeybees are the most common pollinators. As Rabb highlights, Pennsylvania's Bee Law since 1921 has worked to protect bees from a contagious bacterial disease called Foulbrood. However, in 2024, several colonies in the Commonwealth were confirmed to be infected. These colonies were in Schuylkill County (Walker Township), Wayne County (Preston Township) and Armstrong County (Parks Township). Be a friend to wildlife! Consider putting one of these animal boxes in your garden The bee law also mandates apiary registration and controls the movement of bees and equipment to prevent disease. It also allows for quarantines when threats like Foulbrood are found. Currently, apiaries register for $10 for two years, and the new bill would increase the fee. Similarly, the Plant Pest Law was enacted in 1937 and has worked to protect nurseries and other plant retailers from harmful pests. However, both have been updated in 30 years. Since then, 'there have been significant changes in industry practices,' according to Rabb. The Plant and Pollinator Act would work to establish a risk-based system that allows for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) to prioritize inspections based on the risk of spreading diseases and pests that can harm both plants and pollinators. 'This bill has major implications, not only for the health and wellness of ourselves and our plants, but for our nursery and landscaping industries, which here in Pennsylvania, generate $4.1 billion and funds 63,000 jobs annually,' Rabb wrote. There are at least 437 bee species in Pennsylvania from six different families. You can learn more about the bees you see on Penn State's López Uribe Lab website. The new program would also implement an early detection system to prevent the spread of pests. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
