Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) today issued the following statement after Majority members on the Assembly Committee on Correction voted to dramatically increase the minimum wage for inmates working in state correctional facilities. In addition, the bill (A.8080) provides prisoners with a cost-of-living increase every five years.

“Assembly Majority members are happy to take money out of the pockets of hardworking New York families and hand it over to criminals behind bars,” Kolb said. “Not only are liberals determined to give inmates more money, but they’re looking to add a regular cost-of-living adjustment as well. The cost-of-living for an inmate is practically zero.

Law-abiding citizens are the ones dealing with rising prices of groceries, gasoline, child care, utilities and everyday expenses. Proposing to offer ongoing taxpayer-funded raises to individuals who have raped, murdered, beaten or criminalized innocent victims is absolute insanity.

This goes beyond the misguided pro-criminal priorities we’ve seen from Assembly Majority members all year – every part of this is offensive. I stand firmly against this bill and strongly encourage the Assembly Majority to stop pandering to criminals and start addressing New York’s core problems.”