Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Gov. Andrew Cuomo today appeared closer on agreeing that a minimum wage increase wouldn’t impact job growth, but instead generate economic activity.

Cuomo at a Red Room news conference said he “philosophically” supported a minimum wage increase, but did not say what a target number should be.

The state’s minimum wage is $7.25 and Silver wants to increase it to $8.50. The measure would then tie future increases to the rate of inflation.

But Cuomo, who disagreed that a minimum wage increase was a “job killer” seemed to adopt some of the argument from Silver, who has said an increase can spur the economy.

“I don’t believe the minimum wage costs jobs,” Cuomo said. “If it’s an intelligent increase I believe it can create jobs, as a matter of fact creates spending. It depends on the numbers.”

The governor also noted that the wage increase will likely face a tough time getting past the Republican-led Senate, though Majority Leader Dean Skelos hasn’t ruled out blocking it from the floor and some moderate GOP lawmakers would possibly be open to a smaller increase.

“Can you over come the gap? I’m an optimist, I’m hopeful,” Cuomo said. “We’ve overcome very large gaps, but they are in very, very different places I can tell you that.”

Silver, meanwhile, insisted yet again nothing will be linked to the increase such as tax cuts for businesses or an overhaul of state regulations.

“I think the minimum wage is an issue that stands on its own,” Silver told reporters. “The tax credits stands on its own.”

The speaker also referenced the sky-high approval a wage increase has in voter surveys.

“The public is overwhelmingly in support of the issue and I think the issue stands on its own. We have a moral imperative to make sure or at least to help people who work a 35-hour week should not be poor,” Silver said.

He added that he’s spoken to the governor on several occaisions, saying he’s “sympathetic.”

“I’ve had a number of conversations with the governor and he is sympathetic to the plight of people who work full time and believe they should be making a reasonable wage,” Silver said.

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