Gov. George E. Pataki has vetoed a bill that would have gradually increased the minimum wage to $7.15 from $5.15 an hour by January 2007. The bill was supported by labor unions and the Working Families Party who felt it would help lift families out of poverty and improve the state's overall economy. However, business groups urged the governor to veto the bill which they said could cost the state jobs.
See "Pataki Vetoes Bill to Increase Minimum Wage in New York", Al Baker, The New York Times, July 29, 2004