ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo played footsie with a possible minimum- wage increase yesterday, calling a hike a potential job-creator.
He acknowledged the argument of Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and other opponents that an increase could lead small businesses to cut jobs — especially for young, less-skilled workers.
But, he told reporters at the Capitol, “As a general rule, I don’t believe [increasing] the minimum wage costs jobs if it’s an intelligent increase. I believe it can create jobs, as a matter of fact, and create spending. The question becomes, what numbers?”
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) is pushing to increase New York’s minimum wage from the federal rate of $7.25 an hour to $8.50 next year and index it to inflation.
Cuomo has not taken a position on the bill.
Skelos (R-LI) said yesterday that now isn’t the “right time” for an increase — but acknowledged he had voted to hike the minimum wage before.
The Republican leader has cited studies showing that increases in the minimum wage result in job cuts that hit the poorest and least- educated workers the hardest.
Meantime, Cuomo said an agreement on providing limited disclosure of teacher evaluations is likelier than a deal to raise the minimum wage before the scheduled June 21 end of this year’s legislative session.
He cited “progress” on talks with lawmakers over protecting teachers’ privacy while ensuring parents’ access to teacher grades.
Also yesterday, Cuomo did not rule out approving a legislative pay raise — a potent bargaining chip for the governor — during a later post-election session.
He said he hadn’t thought about what he would do if re-elected lawmakers vote themselves a raise in November or December that would take effect when their new terms begin in January.
Silver has said he thinks if lawmakers deliver results this year, they should get their first raise since 1999 — when rank-and-file base pay went to $79,500 and leader pay to as much as $121,000.
Skelos has said he doesn’t think legislators are adequately paid. But state leaders insist they have not discussed the issue this year.
Cuomo also called talk that he’s making a 2016 presidential run “flattering” but said he’s focused on doing the best job he can as governor.