Senator Joe Pennacchio, sponsor of legislative amendments to responsibly increase New Jersey’s minimum wage to $8.50, stated the following in response to Governor Chris Christie’s conditional veto today of A-2162:

“The governor’s conditional veto is further proof that many Republicans and Democrats agree that the state’s minimum wage should be increased.

“But instead of compromising to increase the minimum wage, Legislative Democrats would rather use this issue to mislead and gain support during this year’s campaigns. They would rather hold the workforce as political pawns for the election. What Trenton Democrats don’t realize is that members of New Jersey’s workforce are smart enough to realize when they are being played.

(more…)