Assemblyman Keith Wright, the state Democratic Party co-chairman, insisted last night at the Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators winter conference here in Albany that while there are differing ways of increasing the state’s minimum wage, there’s general agreement that it has to be done.

Wright is backing a plan to increase the state’s $7.25 wage to $9 and index future increases to the rate of inflation, putting the state in line with what President Obama proposed in the State of the Union.

That seemingly puts him at odds with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to increase the wage to $8.75, with no tie to inflation. Cuomo at the same event last night opened the door to removing the minimum wage provision entirely from his $142.6 billion budget proposal and that he was open to negotiating the figure.

“It’s a complicated issue,” Wright told Liz in an interview. “I’d look at it like everyone is on the same page. We have people that really wnat to raise the minimum wage. I certainly think my bill is common sense, however we’re certainly glad there are other bills out there.”

But all agree that Obama’s propsoal to increase the wage has made things somewhat more complicated in New York. Senate Republicans now say that New York should wait for the federal government to act — seemingly and somewhat ironically — taking some political cover from the president.

Wright, echoing Cuomo’s call for New York to be a leader in all things progressive, said in the interview there’s not much of a point in waiting for Washington to move on the wage issue.

“The governor already talked about New York has led the nation on so many issues and so many things,” Wright said. “If he takes it out of the budget or if he doesn’t take it out it reamins to be seen, number one. Number two, it’s an issue that needs to be tackled and we can’t wait. So I’m sorry the Senate Republicans are talking about let’s wait, because if we keep waiting, we can wait, wait, wait and nothing will happen.”

He also slammed the Senate GOP for potentially shielding themselves with Obama’s wage plan.

“I’m sorry if that they’re looking at it that way,” Wright said. “They’re probably looking for cover for a lot things. They’re always looking for cover, but we weren’t brought up here to be covered, we were brought up here to lead and hopefully we will get this minimum wage raised.”

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