Most NY voters back raising minimum wage

ALBANY -- New York voters overwhelmingly support increasing the minimum wage, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The Quinnipiac University poll found 78 percent of those surveyed supported raising the hourly $7.25 minimum wage by an unspecified amount. Only 20 percent opposed it.

"It shows it's a liberal state," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "New Yorkers tend to say, 'Yeah, yeah, pay the guys more.' "

Not only do a majority of voters of both parties favor an increase, but a majority support raising it to at least the $8.50 proposed by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) and Senate Democrats.

The poll found that Democrats support an increase 76 percent to 21 percent while Republicans favor it 53 percent to 43 percent. The proposed increase to $8.50 an hour was judged too small by 41 percent, compared with 29 percent, who said the increase was fine. Six percent wanted a smaller increase and 20 percent were totally against it.

Carroll said that the poll results could bolster lawmakers' case for the increase.

"If you're pushing for this, you show this poll to the legislators -- they read polls, too," Carroll said. "If I'm a wavering Republican, I might be strengthened by this and say, 'Yeah, my people are for it.' "

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) has called a minimum-wage increase a "job killer."

The poll also asked about opinions on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's performance and the closed-door negotiations that produced an on-time budget, a redistricting agreement, and changes to the pension system.

The poll surveyed 1,597 registered voters in the state from March 28 to April 2. The margin of error was plus-or-minus 2.5 percent.