A report from New Jersey Policy Perspective is urging state lawmakers to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Brandon McKoy with New Jersey Policy Perspective is encouraged by Governor Phil Murphy's economic plan to increase the minimum wage, but he says it should happen this year. "If it doesn't pass this year then we're talking not getting to $15 until 2024 or later with a five-year increase. That's simply unacceptable because the value of $15 will have eroded so significantly