Skoufis

ALBANY – The economy, jobs, increasing the minimum wage and casino gaming are among the top priorities of Assemblyman-elect James Skoufis (D- Woodbury) when he is sworn in one week from now.

Skoufis, who will be leaving his current post as a Woodbury town councilman, said jobs and the economy will be among his top priorities when he goes to Albany. Raising the minimum wage from the current $7.25 an hour to $8.50 is “the responsible thing to do,” he said.

“If you are an individual and you have a family and are making minimum wage full time, you are making about $20,000 a year and by pretty much any definition, your family is in poverty,” Skoufis said. “And to me, what is the point of a minimum wage if it is not to bring a full time working person out of poverty?”

Skoufis said raising the minimum wage would also take some people off welfare.

The new lawmaker will also vote for legalized casino gaming as a means of increasing revenue for the state and increasing jobs.