The New Jersey Senate passed
a bill Thursday that would gradually raise the state minimum wage to $15 an
hour. Currently it's $8.38.
The measure has already been approved by the
state Assembly, so the next stop is Gov. Chris Christie's desk.
The expectation, however, is
that Christie will veto it. But his spokesman would only say that the governor
has to see the final piece of legislation before making that call.
Nevertheless, Christie has been highly critical of the proposal, citing it as
"reckless."
If Christie doesn't veto the
bill, New Jersey would become the third state -- behind California and New York
-- to be on track toward a $15 minimum. And just last week, the District of
Columbia passed a similar measure that the mayor is expected to sign.
If he does veto it,
advocates may get their way through other means. Proponents have said they will
put the measure on the 2017 ballot to let voters decide whether the state
should move toward a $15 minimum wage.
That's what they did in 2013. When Christie
vetoed a much smaller increase, voters approved a constitutional amendment that
raised the then-$7.25 minimum wage by $1 and indexed it to inflation.
The bill passed by the New
Jersey Senate on Thursday would raise the $8.38 minimum to $10.10 in 2017, and
then by at least $1.25 every year thereafter until 2021. At that point it would
continue to be inflation adjusted.
Unlike New York, the New
Jersey bill does not allow for a slower implementation schedule in the less
economically robust parts of the state.
Credit:CNN Money
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