ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A final push to increase New York's minimum wage is set to begin with the backing of a new report from the influential Independent Democratic Conference in the Senate.
The report argues that raising the minimum wage will provide New York's economy with a broad boost, affecting more than 350,000 New Yorkers, most of them women and minorities.
The analysis to be released Tuesday says hiking the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour from $7.25 would fuel $600 million in additional spending in the state.
The state Black, Puerto-Rican and Asian Legislative Caucus also plans to push the measure during a news conference Tuesday.
The efforts come after Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for the increase in his budget proposal.
Now, closed-door negotiations are under way in the Senate and Assembly.
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