PHOTOS: On 14th Anniversary of Last Minimum Wage Hike, Mr. Rigs, “the Corporate Fat Cat,” Pays Rep. Molinaro a Visit
Despite Inflation and Tax Cuts for the Rich, the Federal Minimum Wage Has Remained Stagnant Since 2009
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK — Today, July 24th, Mr. Rigs, “the Corporate Fat Cat,” paid a visit to Representative Marc Molinaro’s Binghamton office, accompanied by his friends at Empire State Voices. Today marks the 14th anniversary of the last increase to the federal minimum wage back in 2009. Since then, the U.S. dollar has lost 30% of its value.
While New York has taken action at the state level to increase its minimum wage, the tipped minimum still sits at just $9.45, and fewer than 40% of New Yorkers earn a living wage. Despite all this, Rep. Molinaro has refused to come out in support of a minimum wage hike. Instead, he is expected to side with his party and vote in favor of a package of bills later this summer, which would primarily cut taxes for corporations and the wealthiest Americans.
“Representative Molinaro talks about making life more affordable for everyday New Yorkers, but his votes since taking office tell a different story. He rails about inflation but refuses to support an increase to the minimum wage to bring it in line with today’s higher cost of living,” said Maria Martinez, Executive Director of Empire State Voices. “We’ve brought Mr. Rigs to his doorstep today in order to highlight one simple fact: Rep. Molinaro is fighting for the ‘fat cat’ billionaires and corporations when he should be fighting for all of us.”
Mr. Rigs outside Rep. Molinaro’s Binghamton office on the 14th anniversary of the last minimum wage increase | Credit: SPENCER NOBLE / ESV
To learn more about the campaign, please reach out at press@empirestatevoices.org
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About Empire State Voices
Empire State Voices (ESV) is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. ESV is fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same.
