Minimum wage in NJ, electoral reform in Pa, cashless business ban

New Jersey raises it's minimum wage to $15 an hour, electoral reform efforts in Pa., and banning cashless businesses.

Listen 49:00
A woman shouts while marching with service workers asking for $15 minimum wage pay during a rally at Newark Liberty International Airport, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, in Newark, N.J. The event was part of the National Day of Action to Fight for $15. The campaign seeks higher hourly wages, including for workers at fast-food restaurants and airports. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo)

A woman shouts while marching with service workers asking for $15 minimum wage pay during a rally at Newark Liberty International Airport, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, in Newark, N.J. The event was part of the National Day of Action to Fight for $15. The campaign seeks higher hourly wages, including for workers at fast-food restaurants and airports. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo)

Guests: Katherine Landergan, Douglas Hill, Christian Hetrick

We’re going to bring you a few local stories today on Radio Times. First; New Jersey will be raising its minimum wage to $15 an hour. We’ll talk with POLITICO New Jersey’s KATHERINE LANDERGAN about the political battle to pass the law, the law itself, and how it will be implemented. Next, we’re going to be joined by the executive director of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, DOUGLAS HILL, about efforts to improve and streamline the voting process in the Commonwealth, which includes equipment upgrades, voter I.D. reform, absentee ballot access, and rewriting election provisions. Lastly, both Pennsylvania and New Jersey are making moves to ban cashless businesses – that is, establishments that require payments via credit or debit cards. This practice has been deemed discriminatory against people who do not have the means to obtain bank accounts or credit cards. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s consumer reporter, CHRISTIAN HETRICK, will tell us about the efforts in both states.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal