Contact: Michael Fraser, (518) 455-3751
New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) today issued the following statement on Gov. Cuomo's proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour across New York State.
"The governor circumvented the Legislature to raise the minimum wage for fast food workers. His use of Executive Order undermined the state's elected representatives in order to implement a politically-driven agenda that will hurt businesses and consumers.
It is ludicrous - to the point of irresponsible - to suggest that New York State should raise the minimum wage by almost 70 percent. Companies operating here already face some of the nation's worst taxes and onerous regulations. The governor is proposing a catastrophic step in the wrong direction that will cripple thousands of small businesses already struggling to succeed.
As the only legislative leader in Albany who has owned and run a business, I know how difficult it is to navigate New York State's toxic business environment. The governor's proposal will make the environment even worse. We will not create more jobs in New York State if we make it more expensive to hire workers."