Pataki Vetoes Minimum Wage Bill After Calling for it To Be Passed

The battle now is to win an override. A two-thirds majority is needed in both the Senate and Assembly. The bill passed with votes to spare
in both, but this will not be easy, especially in the Senate. We write with an almost overwhelming sense of disgust and anger.

Yesterday, Governor Pataki vetoed the minimum-wage bill. To say this
caught us by surprise is an understatement. The political class had
confidently and uniformly predicted that he would sign the bill.

But perhaps we shouldn't be shocked.

This is a governor with a history of unbridled hostility to funding
schools attended by poor children. This is a governor whose recent
budget proposals once again slash benefits for the weak and powerless,
even as he curries favor with the powerful. Vetoing the minimum-wage
merely expands the range of people who can feel the Pataki lash.

The reasons given in his veto message are laughable and often
factually wrong. You can read it on our web site.

Whatever his written statement, the real reason for his veto is
politics. Pataki is playing to the national Republicans and the local
Conservatives, and what better way to make yourself known as a
tough-guy than to really stick it to low-wage workers. Plus he did it
on a day ? Kerry’s speech, Yankees’ new stadium, MTA fare hike
announcement ? when it was guaranteed to get relatively little notice.
A real profile in cowardice.

So, we're pissed. And the only thing to do in such a situation is ?
organize.

The battle now is to win an override. A two-thirds majority is needed
in both the Senate and Assembly. The bill passed with votes to spare
in both, but this will not be easy, especially in the Senate.

Here's the math. 51 senators voted “Yes” last week for the bill. We
need to hold 42 for an override. And Majority Leader Bruno must
actually schedule a vote that would, no doubt, be seen as an
embarrassment to the governor -- -- and of course the Governor’s
feelings are more relevant than the needs of one million low-wage
employees.

It will take several days to figure out what’s really happening in
Albany. But in the short term ? PLEASE send an e-mail or letter TODAY
to Majority Leader Bruno urging him to do the right thing for the
second time and override the veto. It’s not much more complicated than
that. They tally the e-mails and letters they get, so this is
valuable.

His email: bruno (at) senate.state.ny.us.

You can blind copy wfp (at) workingfamiliesparty.org.

If you prefer to mail or fax: Sen. Joseph Bruno, 909 LOB, Albany NY
12247 or fax: 518-455-2448.

Do that right now. Please.

Whatever it takes -- more door-to-door slogging in individual
districts, phone-in days to the Senate, civil disobedience, a relay
march to Albany, you name it -- we know one thing for sure. We'll
need the help of every single person reading (and forwarding!) this
message.

The final word for now goes to Russell Chamberlain, a night-shift
bartender from Portville NY who wrote the following message on the WFP
’s on-line message board to the governor.

“It must be easy for you to sit at your desk in Albany and declare
that you will not support a raise in the minimum. I know that you are
the governor of New York State, and perhaps deserve to receive a
higher pay than I do. However, I do not think that I should have to
count quarters and hope that I have enough to purchase milk at the
store for my family. We recently had to borrow $20 from a friend in
order to purchase bread, eggs, cheese?I really hope that you
reconsider your stance.”

Pataki won’t reconsider. But the Legislature must.

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That's it. We'll keep you posted. As always, if you haven't
financially supported the WFP lately, please do so.

We cannot fight this battle without a little bit of money from a lot
of different people. Click www.workingfamiliesparty.org/support and
become a monthly sustainer or one-time giver.

Thanks. Never give up.

Jim Duncan, Bertha Lewis, and Bob Master
WFP Co-Chairs

Dan Cantor
WFP Executive Director