Democrats in the State Senate held a forum promoting a hike in the state’s minimum wage, while a conservative group says there’s already a government program in place that  boosts the earnings of low wage workers well above the current minimum standard.

Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson is stepping up pressure for the legislature and the governor to act to increase the state’s minimum wage form the current $7.25 an hour to $8.50 an hour.   The Senator speaking after a public forum, where backers of the minimum wage increase testified, says he views it as a moral issue.

“Politics should not play into this at all,” said Sampson. “This is about doing the right thing for people.”

But the conservative think tank the Empire Center says the vast majority of minimum wage earners in New York State are actually making the equivalent of over $10 dollars an hour, because they are taking advantage of the  state and federal earned income tax credit. Russell Sykes, with the Empire Center, says IRS numbers show 75% to 80% of minimum wage workers who are eligible for the tax credit actually do receive it. Sykes says it’s an “effective tool” and he’s surprised that lawmakers don’t take more credit for the program.

“It has an enormous effect on poverty,” says Sykes who says the tax credit lifted more than six million people nationwide out of poverty….

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