A group of local activists have taken to the streets to stand up for progressive values in the state budget.

About a dozen residents gathered outside the Carbon County Courthouse in Jim Thorpe Wednesday morning as part of "We Rise" National Day of Action to Put People and Planet First.Those who did toted signs in favor of the minimum wage increase, and stopping school budget cuts.Roy Christman, secretary of the Carbon County Labor Chapter, explained the purpose of the gathering."There's this myth that if you raise the minimum wage, you lose jobs," Christman said. "You don't lose jobs; your economy gains."Christman said members of Keystone Progress launched the statewide rally to draw attention."We want to make a statement," he said. "We want people to be aware."Patti Borger said the group gathered in support of Gov. Tom Wolf's proposal to raise the minimum wage.On Wednesday, Keystone Progress joined with families around the country for "We Rise," a national day of action in affiliation with National People's Action, Center for Popular Democracy, and USAction.Contacted Wednesday afternoon, state Rep. Doyle Heffley said, "I have always supported people over politics.""Many of the policies that Keystone Progress supports, on the other hand, would grow government spending on the backs of taxpayers and hit working families the hardest," Heffley said. "For instance, the governor's budget proposal would cost the average working family of four more than $1,400 per year in new taxes."Heffley added "moreover, while this plan would raise more than $4 billion in new revenue, the state would only put $2 billion toward property tax relief. More than half of the new revenue would instead go to Harrisburg to support additional government spending." "The governor's plan also lacks provisions that would restrict school districts' abilities to raise property taxes in the future," he said. "A plan that increases taxes on working families by more than $1,400 and provides less than $1,000 in property tax relief, while leaving the door open for property tax increases in future years, does not represent property tax relief, but rather a tax increase on working families."Heffley said, "I am not opposed to increasing the minimum wage to a rate that is reasonable for both workers and employers. However, our focus should not solely be on the minimum wage, but on providing workers with the tools and opportunities necessary to rise to a job that pays a family-sustaining wage."I have always supported adequate funding for our schools," he said. "Last year, I voted for a budget that spent $10.5 billion on education, the most state funds ever."