Cuomo ties pay raise to 'people's agenda'

ALBANY -- Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo Tuesday tied the prospect of a possible pay raise for state legislators this December to action on the "people's agenda," including increasing the minimum wage and reforming stop-and-frisk police actions.

Speaking to reporters after a speech inducting the first new class of state troopers in more than three years, Cuomo said he wouldn't entertain a pay raise for lawmakers unless they tend to "unfinished business" from the last session. It remains uncertain whether lawmakers will venture back to the State Capitol in December to vote on the proposals.

"We have a legislative agenda that has not been passed, which is a priority for me," he said. "And if there is an opportunity for the legislature to act, I'm going to be looking for them to act on the people's agenda. I understand they may have an interest in a pay raise. I'm interested in the people's agenda. Ending the injustices on stop-and-frisk," as well as decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

"I understand what they want," Cuomo said of legislators, "but I'm more interested in what the people want."

The minimum wage proposal would raise it to $8.50 an hour from a current $7.25. Legislators make a base salary of just more than $79,000. They have not seen an increase since 1999.

Scott Reif, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), said, "Sen. Skelos and the governor have not discussed any issues related to a potential special session."

At the close of this year's session in June, Reif noted, Skelos said of a legislative pay raise, "Now's not the time."

Michael Whyland, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who sponsored the minimum wage increase bill, said, "We thank the governor for focusing on important issues like raising the minimum wage, which has been a top priority for Assembly Democrats and should be a part of any special session later this year."