You Try Living on the Minimum Wage
Over half a million workers in New York State subsist on the minimum wage of $8.75 an hour. That’s about $18,000 a year for those working 40 hours a week. Anyone who thinks that is generous should try spending just $350 a week on food, housing, gas and heat.
That exercise might also help Gov. Andrew Cuomo remember why he promised last year to push for a higher minimum wage and index it to inflation. In a video speech that helped him gain the endorsement of the Working Families Party in the last election, Mr. Cuomo supported raising the minimum to $10.10 an hour and indexing it.
He also said he favored allowing a local option for expensive places like New York City to set their minimums as much as 30 percent higher than the rest of the state.
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In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio has been pushing for an immediate increase to $13.30 an hour with a goal of $15 an hour in the city by 2019; the Assembly has its own similar proposal for the state. Mr. Cuomo has dismissed those goals, calling them an attempt to “shoot for the stars.” Mr. Cuomo should also raise his aim to get a higher minimum wage with indexing and allowances for local increases of up to 30 percent.
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/14/opinion/you-try-living-on-the-minimum-wage.html?_r=0
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