Top Democrats in the state Senate say they're considering asking voters
next year if they would like to change the state constitution to raise
the minimum wage.With a bill to increase the $7.25-an-hour minimum wage stalled in the upper ho
use,
leaders are discussing putting a constitutional amendment on the 2013
election ballot — a move that would allow them to bypass Gov. Chris
Christie, who has said he is worried about a wage hike’s impact on
business.
State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, acknowledged the talks.
"We really need to look at the economic impact of the proposal on employees as well as employers," he said. "The policies of this administration have not helped the economy rebound."
But before the idea can make it to voters, it would have to overcome opposition from Assembly Democrats and liberal interest groups that say New Jersey’s lowest earners should not wait more than a year for relief.
Cited by Democrats as one of their top priorities earlier this year, the Assembly in May passed a bill that would increase the wage from the federal minimum of $7.25 to $8.50 — and then raise it in future years based on the rate of inflation.
But the bill stalled in the Senate, leading to finger-pointing between Assembly and Senate Democrats. Christie also promised to veto the bill because of the automatic annual raise. He has not said whether he would sign it without that clause.
Shortly after the legislation stalled, state Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) introduced a resolution for a constitutional amendment (SCR117) that mirrored the bill.
The idea gained currency with top Senate Democrats more recently, but the proposal may be retooled. Leaders say they are now discussing details of a minimum wage referendum.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and his spokesman declined comment. Sweeney told The Times of Trenton editorial board in July that a $1.25 jump in the wage may be too much, too soon. Instead, he said he wanted to introduce legislation to let voters decide whether to write small annual cost of living adjustments of about 12 to 15 cents a year into the constitution. "It’s predictable, it can be built in, and it doesn’t cause sticker shock," he said.
Sarlo said a referendum to write the increase into the state constitution would delay implementation of the hike to allow the economy to recover, allaying business groups’ fears that it would put a halt to what they consider a fragile economic recovery. "No doubt about it, a little delay would be a good thing," he said.
But some Democrats say the wage should be raised this year, and the Assembly bill should be used as the basis for bargaining.
"It’s another black eye for the Legislature that you can’t get something so basic as a minimum wage increase to the governor’s desk," said Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union). "It just shows the lack of empathy we have for what’s going on in the real world... We have been hijacked by the conservative wing of the Democratic Party."
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) declined to comment, but Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), a deputy speaker, said while he can’t speak for her, "I will make the observation that all legislation is ultimately the art of compromise."
State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) said she can’t understand why her colleagues are considering watering down the legislation or delaying enacting it. "Send the bill to the governor, put the ball in his court," she said. "It’s an urgent measure that should be taken up as soon as possible."
Gordon MacInnes, president of the left-leaning think tank New Jersey Policy Perspective, said low income families need the relief now given the state’s high cost of living.
"It would be a benefit to get it approved by any means possible, but we can’t have people waiting to 2014," he said. "It might work in rural Alabama, where you can survive, but it doesn’t work in New Jersey."
Business groups lobbied against raising the minimum wage, saying it would force companies to lay off workers or cut their hours. They said it would force businesses to pass the added costs onto consumers, potentially slowing the state’s economic recovery. http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/nj_minimum_wage_proposal_may_b.html
State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, acknowledged the talks.
"We really need to look at the economic impact of the proposal on employees as well as employers," he said. "The policies of this administration have not helped the economy rebound."
But before the idea can make it to voters, it would have to overcome opposition from Assembly Democrats and liberal interest groups that say New Jersey’s lowest earners should not wait more than a year for relief.
Cited by Democrats as one of their top priorities earlier this year, the Assembly in May passed a bill that would increase the wage from the federal minimum of $7.25 to $8.50 — and then raise it in future years based on the rate of inflation.
But the bill stalled in the Senate, leading to finger-pointing between Assembly and Senate Democrats. Christie also promised to veto the bill because of the automatic annual raise. He has not said whether he would sign it without that clause.
Shortly after the legislation stalled, state Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) introduced a resolution for a constitutional amendment (SCR117) that mirrored the bill.
The idea gained currency with top Senate Democrats more recently, but the proposal may be retooled. Leaders say they are now discussing details of a minimum wage referendum.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and his spokesman declined comment. Sweeney told The Times of Trenton editorial board in July that a $1.25 jump in the wage may be too much, too soon. Instead, he said he wanted to introduce legislation to let voters decide whether to write small annual cost of living adjustments of about 12 to 15 cents a year into the constitution. "It’s predictable, it can be built in, and it doesn’t cause sticker shock," he said.
Sarlo said a referendum to write the increase into the state constitution would delay implementation of the hike to allow the economy to recover, allaying business groups’ fears that it would put a halt to what they consider a fragile economic recovery. "No doubt about it, a little delay would be a good thing," he said.
But some Democrats say the wage should be raised this year, and the Assembly bill should be used as the basis for bargaining.
"It’s another black eye for the Legislature that you can’t get something so basic as a minimum wage increase to the governor’s desk," said Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union). "It just shows the lack of empathy we have for what’s going on in the real world... We have been hijacked by the conservative wing of the Democratic Party."
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) declined to comment, but Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), a deputy speaker, said while he can’t speak for her, "I will make the observation that all legislation is ultimately the art of compromise."
State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) said she can’t understand why her colleagues are considering watering down the legislation or delaying enacting it. "Send the bill to the governor, put the ball in his court," she said. "It’s an urgent measure that should be taken up as soon as possible."
Gordon MacInnes, president of the left-leaning think tank New Jersey Policy Perspective, said low income families need the relief now given the state’s high cost of living.
"It would be a benefit to get it approved by any means possible, but we can’t have people waiting to 2014," he said. "It might work in rural Alabama, where you can survive, but it doesn’t work in New Jersey."
Business groups lobbied against raising the minimum wage, saying it would force companies to lay off workers or cut their hours. They said it would force businesses to pass the added costs onto consumers, potentially slowing the state’s economic recovery. http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/nj_minimum_wage_proposal_may_b.html
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