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 New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has made a $15
state-wide hourly minimum wage a priority and is trying to push it
through with the state's $145 billion fiscal spending plan, which is
due at the start of the state's fiscal year on April 1.
While Democrats, who control the Assembly, support a $15 minimum
wage, Republicans, who have a majority in the Senate, are less
enthusiastic. They fear an increase from its current $9 per hour
could hurt businesses in less prosperous areas, mainly in the
northern, or "upstate" reaches of New York.
Introducing a two-tier system that caps the wage at $12.50 or $13
upstate could emerge as a compromise solution.
New York Democrats want to raise the minimum wage, which at the
federal level has remained at $7.25 an hour for more than six years,
to help the working poor, stimulate demand for goods and services
and provide a boost for the party come election time in November.
 Cuomo did not rule out a two-tier system during a press briefing in
Albany on Tuesday, saying it was important to get the "calibration"
right to take into account the different economic situations in
different parts of the state.
John Flanagan, the Republican majority leader of the Senate, said
"no" late on Tuesday when asked by reporters if there was a minimum
wage deal.
Flanagan spoke after a meeting with Cuomo and Assembly Speaker Carl
Heastie, adding there was still work to be done on the education
budget and outstanding issues involving Medicaid spending.
Both the Senate and the Assembly were adjourned until Wednesday
afternoon while the dealmaking continues.
The two-tier plan is being floated to New York lawmakers by the
tight knit group negotiating the budget, according to Senator Liz
Krueger, the number two Democrat in the Senate.
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Krueger said the "rumored negotiating place" was to move to a $15
minimum wage sooner in New York City, have a longer phase-in for
counties in Long Island and Westchester and not "even try to get to
$15 in the rest of the state."
Final budget negotiations in New York are carried out behind closed
doors by the majority leaders from both chambers and the governor in
an arrangement know as the "three men in a room". Legislation that
is not a core part of the spending plan, such as the minimum wage,
is often packaged together with the budget.
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the leader of the Democratic
minority in the Senate, said she was approached about her support
for capping the minimum wage upstate. While she did not rule it out
she said she would "have difficulty" accepting anything but an equal
minimum wage state-wide.
New York's effort dovetails with a similar proposal in California.
On Monday, California Governor Jerry Brown announced that he agreed
a deal with legislative and labor leaders to raise the minimum wage
to $15 an hour by 2023 in an effort to raise pay for the working
poor.
(Reporting by Edward Krudy in New York; Additional reporting by
James Odato in Ablany; Editing by Daniel Bases and Andrew Hay)
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