Governor George Pataki’s recent veto of the minimum wage bill passed by the New York State Senate was misguided and cruel. His decision sends a clear message: “New York State to working poor: Drop Dead.” “The Governor likes to talk about opportunity and rewarding work,” said Bertha Lewis, co-chair of the Working Families Party, which led the grassroots fight on the issue, “but with this veto he’s shown that he doesn’t believe in any of that.”
The reasons given by the Pataki Administration for the veto are laughable and often factually wrong. (Go to the WFP website for the facts.) The real reason is politics. As WFP co-chair Dan Cantor points out, “Pataki is playing to the national Republicans and the local Conservatives.” After all, “what better way to make yourself known as a tough-guy than to really stick it to low-wage workers. Plus he did it on a day when Kerry’s speech, news of the Yankees’ new stadium and the MTA fare hike announcement guaranteed it would get relatively little notice. A real profile in cowardice.”
Supporters of the minimum wage–a broad coalition ranging from the Catholic Church to business groups to community activists and labor unions–have vowed to fight for an override. A two-thirds majority is needed in both the Senate and Assembly. The bill passed with votes to spare in both, but this will not be easy, especially in the Senate.
Here’s the math. 51 senators voted “Yes” last week for the bill. Supporters of the bill need to hold 42 for an override. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who called the veto an “outrageous slap in the face of thousands of hardworking men and women in our state,” says he will recommend that the Assembly override when legislators return to Albany on Monday. If there is resistance to an override, the WFP–along with its allies–plans to organize an all-out grassroots campaign to ensure that it happens.
It will take a little time to figure out what’s really happening in Albany. But in the short term please send an email or letter TODAY to Majority Leader Bruno urging him to override the veto. Tell him his electoral future just may depend on it. His email: [email protected]. You can also mail or fax him at Sen. Joseph Bruno, 909 LOB, Albany NY 12247 or fax: 518-455-2448.
