There’s an interesting political pairing today — Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Vice President Joe Biden will appear together as the governor proposes that the state minimum wage go to $15 per hour for everyone. Cuomo earlier this year backed the successful drive to boost the minimum wage to $15 for fast food workers. But this expansion across the board would give New York State “ the highest pay floor of any in the nation,” reports the Wall Street Journal. Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle, have passed measures to raise their minimum wages to $15 an hour, the Journal reports, but no state wants to do what Cuomo is doing.
RELATED: Obama presses for paid sick leave. Biden’s presence comes just days after the governor encouraged the veep to join the Democratic race for president, saying it would be healthy for the party.
Cuomo has been in Hillary Clinton’s corner for months, however, and his warming to Biden comes as her poll numbers tank.
Also interesting politically: Mayor Bill de Blasio doesn’t appear to be invited to the announcement.
RELATED: The best companies for paid sick leave. When the mayor of New York City suggested raising the city minimum wage to more than $13 an hour, Cuomo called it a non-starter earlier this year, the Journal notes.
Cuomo and de Blasio have been in a months-long very open political feud.
Pro-business groups called the Cuomo plan a bad idea.
“The most vulnerable businesses and the least essential jobs are likely to suffer,” said Kathy Wylde, president and chief executive of the Partnership for New York City, a business group. “Hopefully, they will take that into consideration in crafting the mandate.” John A. Oswald is editor-at-large at Metro and can be found on Twitter@nyc_oz.
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Cuomo, with Vice Presdent Biden, to call for $15 minimum wage: Report
Reuters
