House passes 3-tiered minimum wage plan
SALEM — A three-tiered minimum wage plan cleared its last hurdle Thursday when the House of Representatives approved the measure 32 to 25.
Gov. Kate Brown said she plans to sign the bill. The Senate approved the bill last week.
“Today’s action advances one of my priorities for 2016: raise the minimum wage,” Brown said in a statement Thursday.
The plan increases wages to $14.75 in the Portland metro area, $12.50 in rural and coastal areas with struggling economies and $13.50 in the rest of the state by 2022.
The first pay bump starts in July, from $9.25 to $9.75 statewide.
“Thousands of working families are in poverty,” Rep. Paul Holvey, D-Eugene. “They can’t make ends meet. We have the opportunity to address this issue, which hasn’t been addressed in 25 years.
“It is time for us as a state to do everything we can to help the needy,” he said. “This is another tool to make that happen.”
The controversial measure has stirred fears that the increase could threaten the survival of the state’s small businesses.
Supporters of a ballot initiative to raise wages to $15 in the next three years said the legislative plan raises wages too slowly given skyrocketing costs.
They have yet to decide whether to pursue placing the initiative on the 2016 ballot. They are continuing to gather signatures but plan to meet in the next couple of weeks to discuss whether there is enough support and resources for the ballot measure to succeed, said Justin Norton-Kertson, campaign manager for Oregonians for $15 Now.
“We think this bill is grossly inadequate,” Norton-Kertson said.
The halls of the Oregon Capitol echoed with fury while the House debated the legislation.
Demonstrators supporting the $15 Now ballot initiative repeatedly disrupted the debate.
First, demonstrators filled the gallery of the House before House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, ordered them to be removed for interrupting Rep. Duane Stark, R-Grants Pass, during a floor speech and displaying signs.
Then, the demonstrators assembled in the front of Gov. Kate Brown’s office, located between the House and Senate chambers, and chanted slogans demanding higher wages and affordable housing.
A flier distributed around the demonstration indicated participants came from 15 Now, Portland Tenants United and several other groups.
Later, the demonstrators started pounding on the doors of the House chamber. Legislators in the back of the chamber said they couldn’t hear the debate, and some expressed concern for their safety. She said Oregon State Police were addressing lawmakers’ security concerns.
The debate stopped for about 20 minutes until demonstrators quieted down.
The bill increases wages to $14.75 in the Portland metro area, $12.50 in rural and coastal areas with struggling economies and $13.50 in the rest of the state by 2022.
The first pay bump would start in July, increasing the wage from $9.25 to $9.75 statewide.
During more than five hours of debate Thursday, the House rejected proposals by Republicans to send the proposal to the ballot.
“Let the 2.2 million voters decide what is best for Oregonians and for themselves,” said Rep. Bill Kennemer, R-Oregon City.
Lawmakers also rejected a proposal by Republicans to send the measure to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means for a fiscal analysis.
The legislative fiscal office has said the total cost of the bill to state government is indeterminate because the plan is phased-in and it’s unknown how many wages will be affected each year.
“The decision by the majority party to bypass our budget committee in favor of an expedited approach to passing this bill is nearly unprecedented,” said Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner. “We owe it to Oregonians to fully vet this proposal, figure out what it is going to cost taxpayers and make sure we have a plan for addressing those costs.”
Rep. Tobias Read, D-Beaverton, said raising the wage also would save revenue because fewer people would need public assistance.
The minimum gradually would climb to $14.75 in 2022 in the Portland urban growth boundary, which includes parts of Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties. It will rise to $13.50 in Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Deschutes, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk, Tillamook, Wasco and Yamhill counties, and parts of Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties outside Portland’s urban growth boundary.
In rural areas, the minimum would increase to $12.50. Those areas include Malheur, Lake, Harney, Wheeler, Sherman, Gilliam, Wallowa, Grant, Jefferson, Baker, Union, Crook, Klamath, Douglas, Coos, Curry, Umatilla and Morrow counties.