The ladder to economic success has fallen in disrepair for too many New York families and our middle class is rapidly shrinking. The Assembly Majority is committed to rebuilding the middle class, so that all New Yorkers have the chance to attain financial security.

To help make this a reality, the Assembly Majority is fighting to increase New York State's minimum wage.

Over the last five years, the minimum wage has increased by only 10 cents per hour, while New York families have seen huge increases in the cost of living. Currently, working families struggle to sustain a household - let alone invest in their children's futures or save for their retirement - with a minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

Increasing the minimum wage would benefit over 1 million working New Yorkers. We should be leading the way on this front and living up to our reputation as a state that takes care of our own. But instead, we're falling behind. The neighboring states of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont - as well as Washington, D.C. and 15 other states across the country - have a higher minimum wage than New York.

The Assembly Majority made fighting for income equality a top priority last year and was successful in lowering taxes for 99 percent of New Yorkers by eliminating the tax cut for millionaires that was set to kick in. And we're ready to fight again this year for hardworking families and increase the minimum wage in New York State.

Sincerely,

Sheldon Silver
Speaker of the Assembly