News from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb
Assembly Office:
933 Legislative Office Building • Albany, NY 12248 • (518) 455-3751
District Offices:
607 West Washington Street • Suite 2 • Geneva, NY 14456 • (315) 781-2030
E-mail:
kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us

For Release: IMMEDIATELY, April 1, 2016
Contact: Michael Fraser, (518) 455-3751 (office); (518) 859-8518 (cell)
Statement From Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) On The Minimum Wage Increase
'Secretive Deals And Special Interests Continue To Rule The Day In Albany'

"A $15/hour minimum wage proves that secretive deals and special interests continue to rule the day in Albany. The most shrouded budget negotiations in recent memory have produced a politically driven policy that will kill hundreds of thousands of jobs in New York State.

Last year, Governor Cuomo raised the wages of fast food workers through executive action because he knew the Legislature would stand strong against such a ludicrous liberal proposal. It is tremendously disappointing that legislative resolve has eroded so sharply in such a short period of time.

By passing a 67 percent increase to the minimum wage, Albany summarily rejected the concerns expressed by farmers, school districts, health care providers, non-profit organizations, economists and the entire small-business community. A well-financed lobbying campaign fueled by an endless stream of special-interest money won the day.

This will be the eighth minimum wage hike since 2013. This is another costly edict from Albany, and for many businesses it will be the final nail in the coffin."