Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight a looming catastrophe for New York farmers, farmworkers, and consumers across New York State and the country. On September 6, the New York State Farm Laborers Wage Board voted to advance a proposal to lower the State's overtime wage threshold for farm laborers from 60 to 40 hours per week, despite overwhelming opposition to the recommendation. During the public comment period, farmers, farmworkers, and consumers all turned out in droves to oppose the recommendation. Farmers, who are struggling with inflation already, are now very worried about keeping up with yet another price hike. Farmworkers are gravely concerned about the possible lost hours on the job, cutting their wages. Consumers should fear even higher increases to food costs, which have already increased 11.4 percent over the last year, the biggest increase since 1979, with prices continuing to go up. Their fears are real. Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences projected that the overtime rule's implementation could force two-thirds of dairy farmers to make significant changes to their operations, including, and dramatically bad, leaving the industry or investing in other States. New York State already leads the Nation in the highest out-migration of people and jobs. This would be a disaster for our agricultural community.…”