The state House Labor Relations Committee voted yesterday to increase the state's minimum wage to $5.70 an hour as of Jan. 1, and then to $6.25 an hour on Jan. 1, 2007. The minimum wage has been $5.15 an hour since 1996.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bob Allen, R-Schuykill, got bipartisan support on a 19-7 vote, even though the proposed new wage rates aren't as high as Democrats had wanted. Democrats wanted the minimum wage to go to $6.25 an hour on Jan. 1 and then to $7.15 an hour in January 2007.

Allen's bill still needs approval from the full House and Senate, and he said more amendments could be offered. Under his bill, 16- and 17-year-olds would continue to earn $5.15 an hour.