A plan to hike New Jersey's minimum wage by $1.25 to $8.50 an hour is a step closer to approval after the Senate Labor Committee passed it, 3-1, Thursday. The bill, which would peg the wage rate to inflation, passed an Assembly committee last month. Leaders in both Democratically controlled chambers in Trenton
strongly support the bill. Gov. Christie, a Republican, has said he would consider signing it. If signed into law, the new wage would take effect July 1. http://bit.ly/AaLwnE