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New Jersey Lawmakers Pass $15 Minimum Wage Bill

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday passed legislation that would raise the state's minimum wage to $10.10 in the next year and to at least $15 over the next five years.

The legislation now goes to Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who has been critical of the proposal and said it would cost businesses and residents in the form of higher costs.

If it were enacted, New Jersey would become the third state on a direct path toward a $15 an hour minimum wage, the highest in the nation. New York and California have enacted similar measures. Other states — New Jersey included — have already linked their wage to inflation.

Democrats who control the statehouse and liberal groups praised the passage.

"This is a great day for New Jersey's working class families struggling to make ends meet," Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto said. "This is an integral part of our efforts to rebuild the middle class."

The Democrat-led Senate voted 21-18 on Thursday to advance the measure that would raise the current $8.38 wage to $10.10 on Jan. 1.

The measure would raise the wage by $1.25 a year or $1 plus an adjustment for inflation, whichever is greater, the following four years.

Christie criticized the proposal in April saying businesses would have to increase prices to accommodate the higher wage by 10 percent to 15 percent.

"You are talking about an increase in your food costs because of this Democratic proposal ... 10 to 15 percent on every item you go to the supermarket to buy for your family because of this great idea," Christie said.

Business groups, including the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, argued hiking the wage could have a "ripple effect" on workers who currently earn $15 an hour.

Prieto and Senate President Steve Sweeney have said they'll pursue a constitutional amendment, which would require a voter referendum and could advance without Christie's support if they advance the measure with a super majority or pass it twice in consecutive sessions.

Voters last approved raising the wage in 2013, from $7.25 to $8.25 and set increases linked to inflation.

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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