Excellent opinion in the Buffalo News

The Buffalo News.

4/5/2004

As comptroller, Andrew SanFilippo has every right to express his opinion on issues he feels strongly about, including minimum wage. He does not deserve criticism for helping to promote the struggle to increase the minimum wage. He did not in any way compromise his position or his fiscal policies by voicing his opinion.
The push to increase the minimum wage is justified. The current wage, which has been at the same level since 1997, is simply not enough to live on. Too many families in this situation are forced to rely on state and federal resources. Raising the minimum wage would enable families to become more self-sufficient, placing less of a burden on limited government resources.

Raising the minimum wage would particularly help low-income families and may stop the poverty rate in New York from continuing to rise. Statistics show that an increase would especially benefit minorities, women, retail workers and immigrants. A minimum wage increase would also help the economy. Higher wage earnings will likely increase consumption spending by workers and cause them to pay more local and state taxes.

If the state government cares about the economy and its people, it will raise the minimum wage. This would provide a more adequate standard of living and strengthen the economy.

ALLISON MCCABE
Buffalo

The Buffalo News.