Obscure part of Oregon Constitution presents hiccup for minimum wage bill

By Gordon Friedman - During public testimony before the Senate Committee on Workforce and General Government, Linn County Commissioner Roger Nyquist told legislators that his county would not comply with the minimum wage bill, SB 1532, if it were to become law, because the county wouldn't have to. --Nyquist said Article XI, Section 15, of the Oregon Constitution requires the Legislature to reimburse local governments when they spend money to comply with new laws. In the case of the minimum wage, the state would increase local government payroll costs yet has no plan for reimbursement. Read more at Statesman Journal Read More......

Radio Spot #2: Short Session

Start Date: Coming soon...
TRANSCRIPT: "For the current short Oregon legislative session that was designed to deal only with minor issues due to limited public review, why is the docket packed with so many major issue? They’ve already overlooked the fact that if they do raise the minimum wage, the state will be on the hook to reimburse counties the extra cost of raising the minimum wage- ouch. Other bills raising corporate taxes, carbon taxes and more will result in huge cost increases for everyone and lost jobs for others. Concerned? You should be- see OregonTruth.com for additional details." Read More......

Oregon doesn't need to revisit its minimum wage: Editorial Agenda 2016

Oregonian Editorial Board - The Oregon Legislature joined the minimum-wage debate in earnest this week, taking public testimony on a proposal negotiated by Gov. Kate Brown that would, lawmakers hope, head off a pair of dramatic initiative petitions. The governor's compromise, discussed Tuesday before a Senate committee, would raise the wage gradually to $13.25, and employers in and near Portland would be expected to pay $14.50 at full phase-in. This is certainly preferable to adopting a $15 statewide minimum within a few years, as would be required by one proposed initiative. But that's where the good news ends. Read more at OregonLive... Read More......

Prozanski abandons controversial gun bill

SALEM — Sen. Floyd Prozanski, a Eugene Democrat, on Monday abandoned a controversial gun bill he had introduced, citing a lack of time to adequately craft the policy in the 35-day legislative session. --The unusual step came before the bill, Senate Bill 1551, even received a public hearing in the Capitol. But the long-shot proposal already had angered gun advocates and GOP lawmakers. Read more at Eugene Register Guard Read More......

Radio Spot #1: Gun Hold Law

UPDATE 2/2/2016: SB 1551 is dead... for now. Good job everybody! You made a fuss and the Democrats reacted.
Start Date: Feb. 1, 2016 - Listen here: Gun Hold Law
TRANSCRIPT: "A bill making its way to the Oregon Legislature can violate someone’s due process. How? This bill is intended to block someone from purchasing a firearm simply by the word of a relative, professor, employer, a health care provider, physician- without that person even being notified. This bill would violate the basic right of all Oregonians, ‘innocent until proven guilty’, especially without even knowing they have, ‘in effect been ‘charged’! Find out more at OregonTruth.com."

The bill is Senate Bill 1551, introduced by Sen. Lloyd Prozanski (D-Senate Dist. 4 - South Lane and North Douglas Counties). OregonTruth urges you to contact your Oregon legislators (find them here) by phone or email if you oppose this horrible bill. You might also want to help inundate Sen. Prozanski's email or Capitol Phone at (503) 986-1704. Read More......