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Cuomo open to some compromise on minimum wage hike

WBFO News File Photo

Home health care agencies are the latest group to come out against Governor  Cuomo’s plan to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

The Association of Health Care providers, which represents around 350 home health care agencies across New York, says  many of its members can’t afford to  pay workers $15 an hour, which represents around a one third increase to the current average pay of between $10 and $11.50 an  hour. The groups says the state should help by upping Medicaid allotments so that people won’t lose their home care services.

Governor Cuomo says he’d consider helping those who truly need it. He says many companies would only be in jeopardy of “making less profit."

“So those companies, I don’t have that much sympathy for,” Cuomo said. “But companies that would feel a financial strain, that’s something we would talk about”.

Cuomo spoke after a rally to raise the minimum wage, as part of a statewide campaign.

Karen DeWitt is Capitol Bureau Chief for New York State Public Radio, a network of 10 public radio stations in New York State. WBFO listeners are accustomed to hearing DeWitt’s insightful coverage throughout the day, including expanded reports on Morning Edition.