NJ Lawmakers To Vote On Minimum Wage Legislation, Atlantic City Funding
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The New Jersey Assembly is scheduled to vote on legislation raising the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour over the next five years.
The Democrat-led Assembly is set to vote Thursday on the measure that raises the current wage of $8.38 to $10.10 on Jan. 1, 2017.
The bill also calls for raising the wage by $1.25 a year or $1 plus an adjustment for inflation, whichever is greater.
Business groups object to the legislation arguing that it inflates the cost of goods and labor.
Republican Gov. Chris Christie criticized the proposal recently. He says businesses would have to increase prices by 10 percent to 15 percent.
New Jersey raised the wage in 2013, going from $7.25 an hour to $8.25 an hour and indexing the wage to inflation.
Lawmakers also plan to vote today on an Atlantic City rescue package to keep the struggling resort town from running out of money. Republican Gov. Chris Christie says he'll decide quickly whether to sign or veto the legislation.
An Assembly committee unanimously approved a measure that gives the city up to two years before a full state takeover of the city, in exchange for city government meeting financial benchmarks. The bill differs from one the Senate passed and that Republican Gov. Chris Christie backs to allow for a state takeover.
Christie previously said he opposed the plan backed by Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and instead wants the takeover legislation.
Issues over funding for Atlantic City rose after the a devastating 2014, in which four of its 12 casinos went out of business.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
