NJ Democrats seek voters' support for $15 wage

Democratic lawmakers have proposed an amendment to the state's constitution to gradually raise New Jersey's minimum wage to $15 an hour.

State Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald were joined by U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross in the effort to bring what they call a "fair wage" to workers both statewide and nationally.

The effort includes a federal bill to raise the minimum wage, introduced to Congress by Norcross, a Camden County Democrat; and a state bill introduced by Sweeney and Greenwald, Democrats from Gloucester and Camden counties, respectively, that would put the question to voters via a statewide referendum.

To be placed on the ballot, the bill, sponsored in the state Senate by Sweeney and in the Assembly by Greenwald, would need to pass both houses with a 3/5 majority this year or by a simple majority two consecutive years to go on the 2017 ballot.

The Sweeney/Greenwald bill would raise the state's minimum wage to $9 effective Jan. 1 the year after it passes; thereafter, it would increase by $1 per year until it reaches $15. Norcross' bill would raise the federal minimum wage to $8 an hour no later than Jan. 1, 2017 and by $1 per year afterward.