The New York State Senate has voted to increase the minimum wage in New York State by $2 to $7.15 an hour by January 2007, overriding a veto by Gov. George E. Pataki. Pataki felt that raising the minimum wage at the state level would put New York businesses at a competitive disadvantage. However, the proposal gained the support of Senate Republicans who wanted to keep their campaign promises.
See "Over Pataki Veto, Minimum Wage to Rise to7.15", Al Baker, The New York Times, December 6, 2004