New Jersey Lawmakers Advance Minimum Wage Legislation

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey lawmakers have advanced legislation requiring employers to pay a $10.10 minimum wage.

The Democrat-led Senate Labor Committee advanced the bill on Monday.

The measure would increase the state's current minimum wage from $8.38 an hour to $10.10 an hour in 2017 and increase it annually through 2021. The wage would go up by either $1.25 or $1 plus an amount adjusted for inflation, whichever is greater.

Phyllis Salowe-Kaye of New Jersey Citizen Action told WCBS 880's Stephanie Colombini that a wage increase would be a crucial boost for the thousands of full-time workers in the state struggling to make ends meet.

"Not probably all they need, but certainly to level the playing field for them and allow them to have more security in their families," Salowe-Kaye said.

Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto said they plan to put the bill on Republican Gov. Chris Christie's desk.

They say if he fails to sign it they'll pursue a constitutional amendment.

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

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)