POLL: What Do You Think of Minimum Wage Hike Plan?
Governor announced Monday his plan to increase minimum wage by $1 over three years.
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After vetoing a Democratic Party-backed minimum wage bill Monday, Gov. Chris Christie announced his own plan to increase the state’s minimum wage by $1 over three years while restoring a 5 percent cut he made in 2011 to the state's Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor.
Christie's plan is an alternative to the Democratic minimum-wage measure that would have raised the state’s minimum wage by $1.25 to $8.50 per hour in one fell swoop. The blue approach also would have linked automatic yearly increases to the Consumer Price Index, an idea the governor rejected.
Senate President Steve Sweeney has said that in the event of a Christie veto, Democrats would try to pass a constitutional amendment.
The governor's plan amounts to a smaller hourly boost for low-income workers than Democrats wanted, and spreads that smaller increase over three years.
State Republican leaders call the governor's approach a responsible way to give relief to working families that does not jeopardize New Jersey’s economic progress.
General Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, a Democrat who sponsored the vetoed bill held a different view, calling Christie’s action “unacceptable” and “callous.”
Meanwhile, Laurie Ehlbeck, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, expressed regret over Christie's move.
“This was a difficult decision for the governor and we appreciate his effort to soften the blow,” said Ehlbeck. “But the bottom line is that it’s still a blow to small businesses and that’s going to harm the economy.”
Patch wants to know what you think, Parsippany. Take the poll and please expand on your thoughts in the comments.
Selene
5:35 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Someone please explain how a mimimum wage boost hurts small businesses? A boost to $8.50 is MOSTLY a "burden" (used VERY Lightly) to corporations like McDonald's, Walmart, Walgreen's, Wendy's, Staples, Shoprite, Pep Boys, Applebee's, Petco, Michael's, Macy's, Sears.....need I go on? And trust me, none of these corpporations are going to "suffer" from a small wage increase to their workers BUT the extra money going to these families will make a big difference. BTW, $10/hour would be more reasonable, but small steps, small steps.
Selene
5:37 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Ditto to small businesses. Actually shame on a small business owner who is paying minimum wage, we all know the corporates are greedy.
Reality Checker
10:21 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
If it was up to the Governor we would all work for the wages they pay in China and India. All except him of course as when it comes to Christie's home front we know he doesn't trim the fat.
Can anyone really live on 8.50/hour for a 40 hour work week that typically they don't receive health insurance on? Ok so fast food goes up .05 or it impacts an already healthy bottom line that the owner is receiving -- problem with America is the spread from have to have not's continues to grow. Christie's move is a disgrace to humanity and with NJ being one of the more expensive states to live this is inexcusable. I hope this clown of a Governor's obesity gets the best of him as I really don't want to see this blow hole as a national contender for President of this once great country.