NJ Senator: Take politics out of minimum wage hike

TRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney says minimum wage increases should not be decided by politicians.

Sweeney is sponsoring a proposal to put a minimum wage increase before voters next year. It would ask voters to raise the wage by $1, to $8.25 per hour, and tie yearly increases to national economic data, called indexing.

The Gloucester County Democrat says he decided to try to amend the constitution after Gov. Chris Christie indicated he would not sign a bill that included automatic indexed adjustments.

Christie calls the idea of changing the constitution over the minimum wage "truly ridiculous."

The Assembly passed a bill in May raising the wage to $8.50 and creating annual adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index. Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver wants that bill sent to Christie.