Gov. Chris Christie is facing a deadline to act on raising New Jersey’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour in the next year and to at least $15 over the next five.

The Republican Christie has criticized the proposal, which the Democrat-led Legislature sent to him in June. When lawmakers return from an August break, likely after Labor Day, Christie will have to veto the law if he wants to block its enactment. Legislation may become law in New Jersey if the governor fails to take action after 45 legislative days.

If it were enacted, New Jersey would become the third state on a direct path toward a $15 an hour minimum wage, the highest in the nation. New York and California passed similar measures. Other states — New Jersey included — have already linked their increased wages to inflation.

Democrats, who control the statehouse, and liberal groups have put the legislation at center of their agenda.

“This is an integral part of our efforts to rebuild the middle class,” Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto said recently.

The New Jersey measure would raise the current $8.38 wage to $10.10 on Jan. 1. It would then raise the wage by $1.25 a year or $1 plus an adjustment for inflation, whichever is greater, the following four years.

Christie criticized the proposal in April, saying businesses would have to increase prices to accommodate the higher wage by 10 percent to 15 percent.

“You are talking about an increase in your food costs because of this Democratic proposal … 10 to 15 percent on every item you go to the supermarket to buy for your family because of this great idea,” Christie said.

Business groups, including the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, argued hiking the wage could have a “ripple effect” on workers who currently earn $15 an hour.

Prieto and Senate President Steve Sweeney, both Democrats, have said they’ll pursue a constitutional amendment, which would require a voter referendum and could advance without Christie’s support if they advance the measure with a three-fifths majority or pass it twice in consecutive sessions.

If Christie vetoes the legislation, Sweeney said, he expects the increase could be on the ballot in 2017, when New Jersey voters pick his successor.

Christie this week urged lawmakers not to take that route, suggesting a Democratic governor may succeed him when he leaves office after two terms in January 2018.

“Read the rest of the constitution. That’s not what the constitution is for,” he said at a news conference. “You cheapen and minimize the constitution.”

Voters last approved raising the wage in 2013, from $7.25 to $8.25.

(AP)