Posted on 03/21/2002 8:14:14 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines
At a Friday press conference with local lawmakers, the Tompkins County Living Wage Coalition kicked off its campaign to raise New York's minimum wage to $6.75 per hour.
Assemblyman Marty Luster, who represents Tompkins County, said the state assembly, which is controlled by Democrats, has approved the increase several years in a row, but the state senate and Governor George Pataki have voted it down.
"It is beyond me why we can't get the cooperation of the state senate or the governor," Luster said. "The gap between the rich and the poor is greater in New York State than in any other state in the nation."
Causing a loss of jobs or making it harder for businesses in New York to compete are common arguments against increasing the minimum wage are Luster said that states that have increased the minimum wage, which include Vermont, Massachusetts, California, Washington and the District of Columbia, have not seen those affects. He added that when the federal minimum wage went up to $5.15 in 1997, the national economy was not adversely affected.
Tim Joseph, chair of the Tompkins County Board of Representatives, said that when employers don't pay workers enough to support themselves, taxpayers pick up the difference. "Tompkins County has run an aggressive welfare-to-work program. We find that we're pretty successful at the 'to-work' part," he said. "People get jobs, and they work, and they work full-time at minimum wage and they don't make enough to live on."
Workers who do not make enough money to support their families often receive government assistance in the form of food stamps, rent payments, or health care, which Joseph said amounts to a government subsidy for employers.
"You can have an employee who does work for you at less than it really costs to get that work done," he said. "The public pays part of the cost of getting that job done."
A full-time minimum wage worker would earn $10,712 in one year. By contrast, Alternatives Federal Credit Union computes the living wage in Tompkins County to be about $17,500 per year - more than $8 per hour.
According to the coalition, if the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation since 1968, it would pay about $8 per hour.
Pete Meyers, a member of the coalition's steering committee, said the coalition has gathered about 1,300 postcards signed by local residents to send to Albany lawmakers. Four hundred will go to Pataki; 470 to Joseph Bruno, senate majority leader; 420 to James Seward, who represents Ithaca in the state senate and 33 to Randy Kuhl, who represents the western part of Tompkins County.
Coalition volunteers obtained most of the signatures by going door-to-door in downtown Ithaca, Meyers said. They also set up a table at the Alternatives Federal Credit Union, he added.
About 225 people subscribe to the coalition's e-mail listserv.
"I would hope the public would get involved in this effort," Luster said. "It takes three to dance in Albany, and so far we only have one."
Ithaca is the City of Evil.
Marty, Marty, Marty.......For you Democrats, it's either group sex or masterbation, isn't it!?
Who the heck does he think will "pick up the difference" if he and his cronies raise the minimum wage? Martians!? Tourists!?Tim Joseph, chair of the Tompkins County Board of Representatives, said that when employers don't pay workers enough to support themselves, taxpayers pick up the difference.
Taxpayers will pay the same, if not more, taxes. Plus, under Dim Tim's plan, they will have to pay more for goods and services purchased in Tompkins County. This fool argues from the side of saving "taxpayers" money, then he presents a plan that would cost every taxpayer in the county more money!
Why is such nonsense even printed?
OMG, do I even want to know?
About UsAlternatives is dedicated to economic justice.
Alternatives Federal Credit Union is a Community Development Financial Institution, dedicated to building wealth and creating economic opportunity for underserved people and communities.
Auuuuuughhh. You know, I didn't even need to go and look this up to know this deep in my heart. I bet their rates for CD's suck.
Their CDs are printed on recyclable paper and offer biodegradable rates.
Well now Marty, who you been dancing with all these years? This is so disgusting, "A Living Wage," what in the name of all Blue Boobies does that mean? Socialism with a capital S. These people are masters at confusing all issues. That is the spirit of evil hanging over "The City of Evil." Twisting everything that's said to achieve their, (the liberal BS agenda.)"City of Evil" bump
Marty Luster should apply for a name change to "Dull".
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