ALBANY — A proposed increase in New York’s minimum wage took a step forward yesterday when the state Legislature’s top Republican said he’d be open to it.
Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos said he might support a “phase-in” of an increase to the $7.25-an-hour rate.
“We will look to see if there’s a way that we can compromise to increase wages . . . without negatively impacting local businesses,” the Long Islander told reporters.
Skelos called a minimum-wage hike a “job killer” last year, but noted yesterday on upstate’s Capitol Pressroom radio show that “some people in the business community are supportive.”
He shares Senate power in an unprecedented coalition with Independent Democratic Conference leader Jeff Klein of The Bronx, a major proponent for a minimum-wage hike, who spoke at a rally by advocates at the Capitol yesterday.
Skelos made it clear he opposes Gov. Cuomo’s proposed $1.50-an-hour hike to $8.75, and GOP lawmakers have rejected Democratic proposals to “index” the rate annually to inflation.