Minimum Wage

Minimum wage in New York State has only increased by 10 cents in the past 6 years. Despite being one of the states with the highest cost of living, New York’s minimum wage remains stagnant at $7.25 an hour. Currently 19 other states have a higher minimum wage than New York, including Washington State, which has a $9.04 an hour minimum wage. Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working New Yorkers means that workers will be able to buy food at their local store or fill the tank at the gas station thus further stimulating the economy.

Adriano Espaillat understands that working families in the 13th Congressional District are struggling. In recent months, he has been fighting for an increase in the New York minimum wage in Albany, proposing a Bill that would establish a livable wage. Fellow Democrats have rallied behind the legislation, but the Republican majority and a group of big businesses have tried to block it at every step of the way. To address this issue Senator Espaillat proposes establishing:

• A simple plan called “$9.25 plus” which will create a two-dollar, two-step increase over two years.
• An index minimum wage to inflation to match New York State prices every year. This would mean that by 2014, no three-person household in New York would fall below the federal poverty line.
• The underlying premise of Espaillat’s plan is that increasing minimum wage will lead to a stimulus effect where people will spend more, employers will hire more workers, and workers can keep their jobs. Boosting the minimum wage is not just a fair deal for ordinary workers; it’s common sense for small business and the overall economy.

For more information:

Vic Duggan

Economic Development Policy Advisor

support@espaillatforcongress.com