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......

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......