The leader of New York�s Democrat-controlled Assembly wants to accelerate the state�s scheduled minimum wage increase to $9 by 2015 and tie it to the inflation rate.

Speaker Sheldon Silver says he�ll introduce legislation to do that.

The Assembly passed a bill this year to raise New York�s minimum hourly wage for most workers from $7.25 to $9 with inflation adjustments. A compromise approved by the Assembly, Senate and governor�s office raised the rate to $8 for 2014, $8.75 a year later and to $9 in 2016 without inflation adjustments.

Silver says that �poverty is not a fair reward� for people who work full time.

Democrats in Congress are expected to push in 2014 for increasing the federal minimum wage above $7.25 an hour.

(AP)