Speaker Oliver Hails Progress on Minimum Wage Increase Legislation

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic) released the following statement Thursday after the Senate approved legislation (A-2162) she sponsored to hike the minimum wage to $8.50 and make annual adjustments based on any increase in the Consumer Price Index.

The Senate approved the bill 23-16. The Assembly approved it 46-33 on May 24, but will consider it again on Monday because of amendments needed to change the increase's effective date to March 1, 2013 and the CPI increase's effective date to Jan. 1, 2014.

"This is great progress for hard-working New Jersey families struggling to make ends meet.

"Democrats are united in their belief in a living wage for all New Jerseyans. We now look forward to moving this bill to final legislative approval and sending it to the governor to see if he too shares our core belief in a living wage for everyone.

"Hopefully, the governor will sign this bill as-is, but if he does not, then we'll quickly take stock and weigh our next step, including asking the people of New Jersey to decide this important matter."

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