N. Jersey Democrat wants to raise minimum wage to $8.50 an hour, among nation's highest

The New Jersey Minimum Wage Advisory Commission, which has reported annually to the governor and the Legislature since 2007, recommended in December keeping the minimum wage at $7.25 in 2012 to protect the state's "fragile" economic recovery.

And a group called the Employment Policies Institute has begun hitting reporters' in boxes, offering an economic expert to debunk the studies Oliver is relying on.

The group, which adopted the same acronym as the Economic Policy Institute, is financially backed by Richard Berman, whose lobbying and political consulting firm, Berman & Co., serves clients in the fast-food, alcohol, and tobacco industries.

The state minimum wage commission, which voted, 3-2, against raising the minimum wage, said an increase could put the state at a competitive disadvantage with Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware, where the minimum is $7.25.

Oliver, along with other Democrats, chastised Christie this week for his proposal to cut income taxes 10 percent across the board. She said it would be a boon to higher-income residents but would provide mere scraps for the middle class and poor.

Contact staff writer Joelle Farrell at 856-779-3237, jfarrell@phillynews.com, or @joellefarrell on Twitter.

Inquirer staff writer Claudia Vargas contributed to this article.