Merkl-Gump Announces Day One Affordability Agenda to Lower Costs and Raise Wages for Families in Lehigh & Bucks County
Perkasie, PA — Democratic candidate for State Senate Bradley Merkl-Gump today announced his Day One Affordability Pledge, committing to immediately sponsor or support legislation to raise the minimum wage, establish paid family and medical leave, and protect residents from utility rate spikes driven by large-scale data center development.
Merkl-Gump’s plan is centered on addressing the rising cost of living facing families across Pennsylvania’s 16th Senate District.
“Families in our community are doing everything right and still falling behind,” said Merkl-Gump. “The cost of groceries, housing, healthcare, and utilities keeps rising, while wages haven’t kept up. On my very first day in Harrisburg, I will take action to raise wages, guarantee paid leave, and make sure working families aren’t footing the bill for corporate energy demands. It’s time our state government started working for the people who actually keep our economy running.”
Merkl-Gump’s Day One Affordability Pledge includes:
Increase the Minimum Wage: Supporting legislation to finally increase Pennsylvania’s stagnant minimum wage so workers can keep up with rising costs.
Paid Family and Medical Leave: Backing a statewide program to ensure workers don’t have to choose between a paycheck and caring for a loved one.
Utility Cost Protections: Advancing policies to prevent residential rate hikes driven by high-demand energy users like data centers, ensuring corporations—not families—pay their fair share.
Merkl-Gump contrasted his agenda with a failure of leadership in Harrisburg.
“Senator Jarrett Coleman and Senate Republicans have failed to deliver on basic affordability measures,” Merkl-Gump said. “They’ve had the opportunity to raise wages, pass paid leave, and protect consumers from rising utility costs and they choose again and again not to. Families here deserve leadership that actually takes action.”
Merkl-Gump, a public school teacher and school board member, has built his campaign around kitchen-table economic issues and a commitment to pragmatic, results-driven leadership.
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