Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to signing laws that raise the minimum wage and require employers to provide sick pay by joining more than a dozen hourly-wage workers who described their daily struggles making ends meet.

The Democrat, however, did not offer any details on how or when he and the Democratic-controlled state Legislature would get it done.

Murphy took the oath of office as New Jersey's 56th governor on Tuesday. In his inaugural speech, Murphy made a point of saying he wanted to act quickly on legislation that would help the working poor, among others.

He said he met with the leaders of the state Senate and state Assembly a week ago to discuss their shared priorities. "Both of these were high on the list," he said at Grace Community Lutheran Church in Newark. "I don't have a good answer on timing yet."

In an interview Wednesday night, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, agreed with Murphy's statement. More discussions need to take place before the bills are introduced and hearings are held because lawmakers and the governor disagree on how to do it.

"The devil is in the details," Sweeney said.

They differ on whether certain industries, such as farm workers or workers in their teens, should get the benefit of the $15 minimum wage. Murphy campaigned on a pledge to support a higher wage for all. Sweeney acknowledged he and others have supported the "carve-outs" for specific populations.

"We are committed to (raising) the minimum wage, paid sick leave and for me, (expanding) the family leave program," Sweeney said. He also said he expected to be one of the prime sponsors of the wage and paid family leave bills.

Murphy, who campaigned for a $15 minimum wage for all hourly workers, acknowledged there were differences of opinion. "We can't get there overnight," he said of negotiations.

But it would get done, Murphy said, rejecting the pervasive "myth" by some in the business community: "If I give you something, it is at my expense...We are done with this us versus them" attitude.

Labor leaders, community organizers and a handful of working people thanked Murphy for his commitment to the issue.

"I voted for you because you said you would fight for working families like me," said Tiffany Green, a food service employee from the Plainfield public schools.

"I am trying to put my son through college. I want to be a role model for my son, and earned sick days are very important," Green said. Fortunately, Plainfield offers paid sick days. "That's great, but we need to have that for everyone."

Rachel Velasquez, a single mother from Elizabeth, said she works two jobs to take care of her three children. Once she asked to take a day off because she was sick and was shocked by her employer's response.

"My employer said, don't come in the whole week and I lost a week of work," she said. "A $15 minimum wage would really help me and my family."

State Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr., R-Union, made a plea for Murphy to include Republicans in the discussions.

"For Democrats who have been critical of single-party government in Washington, they should use this opportunity to demonstrate to the public how they can manage that responsibility better in Trenton," Kean said. "They may be surprised to learn that there's room for bipartisan agreement on significant issues like the minimum wage, but that can't happen if they choose to go it alone."

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook

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