Recent poll shows that majority of Upstate New Yorkers support phasing in a $15 minimum wage
Amidst talks of a state-level proposal to gradually increase New York’s minimum wage to $15 an hour, Central New York Congressman John Katko has made his stance clear: he is against it.
WSYR reports today that John Katko opposes gradually raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Yesterday, WRVO reported that Katko referred to raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour as a “Band-Aid approach.”
52,000 low-wage workers in the 24th District would immediately benefit from a minimum wage increase to just $10.10, according to a 2014 Oxfam America report.
Not only does Katko’s position hurt hardworking families, Katko’s position is also at odds with a majority of Upstate New Yorkers.
Syracuse.com reports that a recent poll found that a majority of Upstate New Yorkers support gradually increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.
“House Republican John Katko opposes giving hardworking Central New York families a much-needed raise to $15 an hour, a move that is supported by a majority of Upstate New Yorkers,” said Bryan Lesswing at the DCCC. “Just like when he broke his campaign promise and voted to defund Planned Parenthood four times, and now his opposition to a $15 minimum wage, John Katko has shown that when it comes to the votes that matter to families and communities across Central New York he falls in line with the rest of the House Republicans.”
Last year, Congressman Katko received bad press and local backlash when he broke a core campaign promise to Central New Yorkers by voting with his fellow House Republicans to defund Planned Parenthood – a position that is squarely at odds with his pro-choice district. Katko has now voted with House Republicans to defund Planned Parenthood four times.