Schumer, Gillibrand push for fed minimum wage hike - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Schumer, Gillibrand push for fed minimum wage hike

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand support an increase to the federal minimum wage, while a similar proposal is stalled in Albany.

The Democrats support an increase in the federal minimum wage to $9.80 an hour. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25.

The National Employment Law Project praises the proposal saying it would trigger a rise in the minimum wage for 1 million New Yorkers. The efforts come as the number of Americans in poverty are rising and wages are mostly stagnant.

Back in New York, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has proposed to increase the state minimum wage to $8.50 an hour. It is now $7.25.

That proposal was opposed by the Senate's Republican majority.

It could be considered in a special session after the fall elections.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)