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SWEENEY TAKES PART IN WHITE HOUSE PANEL ON ECONOMY, SPEAKS ON NJ’S MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

Senate President Steve Sweeney with Broderick Johnson, Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary

Senate President Steve Sweeney participated in a panel at the White House today regarding the economy. Specifically, the Senate President discussed his efforts to increase the minimum wage here in New Jersey and his support for President Obama’s efforts to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.

“It was an honor to speak at today’s event and to share the story of how New Jersey overcame misguided opposition to raise the minimum wage,” said Sweeney.  “President Obama is bringing that same fight to the nation and experiencing the same opposition. People who work hard should not be condemned to a life of poverty. It’s time to Republicans joined Democrats in support of lifting up working people, instead of holding them down.  It’s time to support a raise in the federal minimum wage,”

Senate President Sweeney was joined on the panel by Broderick Johnson, Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary, and Sameera Fazili, Senior Policy Advisor to the President and a member of the National Economic Council. The panel was part of an afternoon of events at the White House for various New Jersey officials and advocacy organizations.

Senate President Sweeney was the prime sponsor of legislation which, last year, placed a constitutional amendment on the ballot to raise the state’s minimum wage and tie further increases to the Consumer Price Index.  The initiative overwhelmingly approved by the voters last fall.