Wagner Campaign Manager Confronts Ball at Minimum Wage Press Conference
State Sen. Greg Ball called on Albany to increase the minimum wage in exchange for small business tax cuts but was confronted by his opponent’s campaign manager during a press conference to tout the plan.
Speaking in front of Mount Kisco Village Hall on Oct. 5, Ball said he supports a raise in the minimum wage from the current $7.25 per hour to $8.50 an hour.
In return, the senator wants a series of tax cuts that would offset the added expense and spur the creation of jobs. Among the tax cuts Ball is proposing is the elimination of taxes on manufacturers over three years, saving about $495 million; providing a 20 percent corporate tax cut for small businesses, saving more than $49 million for about 50,000 businesses; creating a 10 percent personal income tax credit for small businesses, saving another $80 million; and an energy tax cut.
“Forget the politics, let’s get it both done,” Ball said. “Let’s have a comprehensive package. Increase the minimum wage to take care of those hard working folks who need an increase in the wage. But at the same time, let’s also help those small business owners who are struggling just the same.”
As Ball was wrapping up his press conference, he was confronted by Wagner’s campaign manager, Steve Napier, who waved flip flop sandals to highlight what he called the senator’s sudden about-face on the issue as Election Day nears. Napier said Ball has been against raising the minimum wage as recently as last month.
“Senator Ball currently has a website on line attacking our candidate where he says by raising the minimum wage, Justin Wagner is seeking to eliminate 46,000 jobs,” Napier said.
Wagner has also proposed small business tax cuts to accompany a minimum wage increase, he said.
“That is exactly what Justin Wagner proposed months ago,” Napier said. “So we’re glad to see Senator Ball finally coming around to the right side of this issue.”
Earlier in the day, Wagner held his own press conference to press for the elimination of key unfunded mandates.
Ball said the minimum wage could not be raised unless there were tax cuts for small business owners to help pay for the higher wage.
“It’s very clear that increasing the minimum wage without an equal (number in the way) of cuts in taxes for small businesses owners can have the unintended consequences of actually forcing small business owners to lay folks off on the lower end of the pay scale,” he said.
Former Mount Kisco Mayor Patricia Reilly, a registered Democrat, said she supported Ball’s candidacy and his minimum wage/tax cut proposal.
“At the same time, we have businesses that are not able to meet an increase” in the wage without Ball’s tax cuts, she said. “Both are needed.”
“This package can get done and I believe that it will get done,” Ball said. “It will certainly have bi-partisan support.”
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
