Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2016)
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon By kristena hansen Associated Press SALEM (AP) — The min- imum-wage debate gained momentum at the Legislature on Friday when a handful of senators narrowly favored a newly proposed bill to raise wages in a three-tiered approached aimed at pleasing Oregon’s wide spectrum of urban and rural areas. Although nothing is set in stone just yet, Friday’s deci- sion was the first step for- ward on an issue that grew more contentious as the week progressed, rife with fiery exchanges between unions, businesses, local govern- ments and partisan lawmak- ers that antagonized efforts to lock down a compromise at the Legislature in lieu of more aggressive proposals for the November ballot. The three-tiered proposal, now up for vote on the Senate floor, was introduced just the day prior in a surprise move by Senate Democrats. It is similar yet separate from Gov. Kate Brown’s two-tiered approach she had negotiated with various stakeholders before the legislative session began on Monday. Although Brown’s pro- posal, or any other for that matter, isn’t off the table just yet, Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, said the three- tiered system better caters to the unique needs of Oregon’s farmland-laden counties to the east while still address- ing the soaring living costs in metro Portland up north. “The easiest thing us leg- islators could do would be to just let this go to the bal- lot ... I think we all know the legislative solution, a legislative route, is the bet- ter route,” Dembrow said after casting his vote in favor of the proposal during Friday’s Senate Committee on Workforce and General Government hearing. “There will certainly be individual impacts of this rise. But over- all it will not have a negative effect on the economy.” The proposal would raise the state’s current $9.25-an- hour minimum by 50 cents in metro Portland and a group of counties that include Salem and Eugene starting in July, while the third category of rural counties would see a 25-cent increase. Gradual increases thereafter would take place annually through 2022, when Portland’s rate would be set at $14.75 an hour, other urban counties at $13.50 and rural counties at $12.50. The committee’s two Republicans, Sens. Kim Thatcher and Tim Knopp, voted against the measure, echoing testimonies earlier this week from rural farmers and small-business owners about the hardship a wage increase would impose. “I really feel like the impact on this is going to be negative in a lot of ways. It’s going to hurt a lot of the people you’re trying to help,” Knopp said. “I think there are better ways to impact the working poor.” Outside of the Legislature, meanwhile, groups with com- peting agendas are ramping up their campaigns. Union groups behind the ballot proposals vowed to double their signature- gathering efforts while two coalitions backed by such groups as the Oregon Farm Bureau and the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce have been gathering support through newly launched web- sites attacking the minimum- wage effort. Federal wolf-killing program faces lawsuit SALEM (AP) — Conservationists filed a fed- eral lawsuit in Oregon on Wednesday that challenges the authority of a federal government program to kill wolves in the state. The lawsuit targets the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program, which controls the number of wolves, coyotes, grizzly bears, mountain lions and other wild animals. It’s a similar lawsuit Cascadia Wildlands in Eugene and other conservationists won late last year in Washington state, where a federal judge said the program should’ve done a more thorough analy- sis of the effects of its activi- ties and banned it from kill- ing wolves in that state. Cascadia Wildlands is the same group currently fighting Oregon’s decision last year to remove the wolf from the state’s endangered species list in a separate lawsuit. The Nugget Newspaper Crossword By Jacqueline E. Mathews, Tribune News Service — Last Week’s Puzzle Solved — This Week’s Crossword Sponsors Photo Mike Putnam Minimum-wage hike gains momentum 25 Motorization Experts 1,000s of Looks • 100s of Colors • 25 Brands Professional Installation • Our Warranty It’s never been easier to get exactly what you want! 541-788-8444 Free Consulting • Find us online at www.BudgetBlinds.com CCB Licensed #197715 | Bonded | Insured | 30+ Years Experience
