For Immediate Release: April 4, 2012 Contact: Gary Ginsburg | garykginsburg@gmail.

com | 518-817-6193

Democratic Conference Leader Sampson Pushes for Increase in States Minimum Wage
(Albany, NY) Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos refuting the Senate Republicans claim that increasing the minimum wage for New York State would hurt employment rates. The letter demonstrated that increasing the minimum wage would actually improve New Yorks economy and provide the groundwork for long-term growth opportunities. I wholeheartedly disagree with your recent comment that the proposal to raise the states minimum wage above $7.25 per hour will be a job killer and hope this issue will be a top item for consideration during the remainder of the legislative session, Conference Leader Sampson said. As residents of our state continue to struggle financially, raising the minimum wage is not only the right thing to do, it is actually better for our economy as well. The letter demonstrated that while the New York minimum wage was higher than the federal poverty line for a family of three from 1962-1979, we have fallen far behind since then. Currently, the $7.25 hourly minimum translates into just 82 percent of the federal poverty level for that same family a level that should be an embarrassment for our state government, especially as so many working families continue to endure economic hardships. The Senate Democratic Conference has demonstrated that increasing the minimum wage to just $8.50 would benefit approximately one million workers about 11 percent of the States workforce. The letter also demonstrated that linking the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) would permanently maintain the purchasing power of minimum wage households, which will in turn create jobs. Senator Sampson added, To date, 19 other states have recognized that the federal minimum wage is simply too low for people to survive on, even with food stamps or other government assistance. Our regional neighbors, Massachusetts and Connecticut, recently raised their minimum wages and they both outpaced the national economy last year. Additionally, polls have demonstrated that overwhelmingly New Yorkers recognize the need for a higher minimum wage, and I call on all of our states leaders to work together and lay the foundation for our states continued economic growth. Click here to see Senator Sampsons letter supporting a higher minimum wage. The Senate Democratic Conference will be hosting a committee forum on April 18, 2012 to discuss raising the minimum wage. The Democratic Conference had requested a committee hearing on this important initiative but the Senate Republican denied their request.

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