Phil Murphy, Democrats call for $15 minimum wage in New Jersey

New Jersey Gov.-elect Phil Murphy used his first public appearance with the state's legislative leaders since his election to vow a $15 minimum wage within four years, calling the raise "as high a priority as we've got."



At a State House news conference with Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker-designate Craig Coughlin, Murphy reiterated his campaign promise to boost New Jersey's lowest hourly wage from $8.44 to $15 and said he expects to sign a bill accomplishing that goal early in his term. The Democrat is to be sworn in Jan. 16.



"If you do the math, $15 is hardly heroic," said Murphy, adding that a two-income couple making that figure would barely be above the poverty line. "We've got to get there. We have to do it responsibly but we must get there."

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The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2010, as the Republican majority in Congress has argued that raising it would lead to job losses and make U.S. businesses less competitive. U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, D-Cherry Hill, joined state Democrats Monday in calling for a higher federal minimum.

Since 2010, many states and cities have mandated higher wages on their own. Twenty-nine states, including all of New Jersey's neighbors except Pennsylvania, currently require employers to pay more than $7.25. Nineteen states began 2017 with higher minimum wages, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

New Jersey's current minimum wage is $8.44, which is due to increase to $8.60 on Jan. 1 under a state constitutional amendment approved in 2013 that links increases in the minimum wage to inflation.

Bergen County officials plan to pay a $15 hourly wage to all full-time county employees. The details of that plan will be announced at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Last year, the Democratic-controlled Legislature voted to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2021, but Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the legislation. Christie said Monday that he made his position clear as governor but wouldn't get into the habit of commenting on Murphy's statements or actions.

Sweeney, a Gloucester County Democrat, and Coughlin, a Middlesex County Democrat, said they would work with Murphy and their caucuses to nail down the specifics of a minimum wage increase, but all agreed that $15 was the goal.



"At least we know we're moving forward instead of meeting the veto pen," Sweeney said.

Three unionized workers making less than $15 an hour joined the politicians at the news conference, arguing that the current state and federal minimums aren't adequate for working families.



Leslie Hall, a school cafeteria worker in Trenton, said her $11.35 salary leaves her with little money to feed herself and her daughter after subtracting her mortgage, car insurance, utilities and other expenses.



"A minimum $15 wage is vital, not only for me but for all working New Jerseyans," she said.

Earlier this month, the top Republican in the state Senate, Tom Kean Jr., said his caucus would be open to a compromise with Murphy and Democrats to raise the state's minimum wage in exchange for reductions in state income taxes.

Kean didn't say what wage he'd be comfortable with, and Democrats can raise the rate without a single Republican vote in either chamber of the Legislature.

Kean did say last year that a $15 wage would accelerate job losses among unskilled workers, particularly in fields where technology can replace human labor. The New Jersey Business & Industry Association condemned the move toward a higher minimum wage Monday, saying it would reduce opportunities for teenagers and make New Jersey less competitive.

In a statement after the news conference, Kean expressed disappointment that Murphy and Democrats had not consulted with his caucus on a "fair" increase in the minimum wage and reductions in income taxes on middle-income New Jerseyans.

“While I’m disappointed that New Jersey’s Democratic leaders have not yet accepted my offer to work together, I remain hopeful that they will reconsider," Kean said in a written statement.



Sweeney said he shares the goal of reducing taxes on the middle class but doesn't view a higher minimum wage as a bargaining chip.



"How about they have a heart and recognize that their constituency supports raising the minimum wage without any conditions either?" Sweeney asked.