Minimum Wage Boost May Lead to NJ Residents Pumping Their Own Gas

New Jersey signed-off on boosting the state minimum wage to $15 an hour, however this could lead to Garden State residents having to pump their own gas, warns one state senator.

According to CBS 3, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy stated, “For far too long, too many of our fellow New Jerseyans have been struggling to survive on wages that have not kept up with the cost of living, I am incredibly proud to sign legislation that raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour, ensuring that the most vulnerable among us will have the means to put food on the table, while growing our economy and addressing priorities of the small business community.”

The boost in hourly pay may be a great benefit to many workers, however Republican State Sen. Declan O’Scanlon says the increase will lead to New Jerseyans having to pump their own gas.

“New Jersey is basically famous for not wanting to pump our own gas. In fact, I’ve previously received phone calls making sure to let me know that ‘Jersey Girls Don’t Pump Gas’! Well, we better be prepared to start pumping our own gas soon because one of the industries that is bracing for massive losses is our fuel merchants. Local gas station owners testified before us that they cannot sustain employees and keep their businesses open without bringing in self-serve gas,” O’Scanlon said in a statement via CBS 3.

This pay boost of $15/hour is set to gradually increase over the course of five years.