Proposal to Increase NJ Minimum Wage

The proposal calls for increasing minimum wage to $8.50

A proposal to raise New Jersey's minimum wage to $8.50 an hour is getting its first legislative hearing.
 
The Assembly's Labor Committee will consider the measure Thursday. It calls for raising the wage floor by $1.25 an hour.
 
Gov. Chris Christie is still reviewing the proposal, but says nothing will happen unless Democrats approach him with the idea.
 
Assembly and Senate Democrats have identified increasing the wage as one of their priorities for the legislative session. They say a higher wage will keep more families from poverty and help stimulate the economy by encouraging spending.
 
Business groups generally oppose the increase, saying it will lead to layoffs and make doing business in New Jersey even more costly.
 
The bill would tie future wage increases to the Consumer Price Index.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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