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Workers to hold 24-hour Capitol vigil to push for $15 wage

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo marches up Fifth Avenue during the St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 17 in New York.

ALBANY, N.Y. » Workers, labor advocates and faith leaders plan to hold a 24-hour vigil at the New York state Capitol in support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15.

Monday’s event comes as state lawmakers and the Democratic governor enter the final days of negotiations over the minimum wage, which Cuomo wants included in the state budget.

The proposal would gradually raise the wage from $9 per hour to $15, by 2018 in New York City and by 2021 elsewhere.

Republican lawmakers say they want to make sure such a sharp increase doesn’t hurt the economy.

Potential changes include a slower phase-in period or exemptions for small businesses or agriculture.

Lawmakers and Cuomo hope to strike a deal over the budget by April 1.

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