Are Oregon Democrats backtracking already on the minimum wage?
Less than two weeks after Oregon’s minimum wage increase was signed into law, Democratic House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick told the Portland Business Alliance they’ll propose changes to it next year, including lower wages for younger workers and trainees — according to a report in the Oregonian. Only, Kotek tells the Northwest Labor Press, that’s not accurate.
Kotek says there are no plans to adjust the wage scale that was put in place over the next six years. But she said legislators are willing to have conversations about a lower wage for trainees and young workers — as a solution to the problem of youth unemployment…
State Sen. Michael Dembrow and State Rep. Paul Holvey — both chairs of labor committees — say they plan to discuss a training and/or youth wage, but they also say other solutions to youth unemployment might be as good or better — like targeted tax credits or additional state support for youth work programs…
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Here’s “progressive” government at its best. First they pass something that “sounds good” – in this case higher salaries for “the little guy” – without thinking it through. Now, to make their first law work they need more laws – here it’s lower wages for trainees and younger workers.
Next they have to define “trainees” and “younger workers.” For that they’ll need hearings and rulings. And more laws. Who’s a “trainee?” “Younger” than what? Employers will lobby and donate bucks to extend the “trainee” period as long as they can and define “younger” as old as they can.
Next Salem will need a new department to find and punish employers who fudge on training periods and ages. They’ll land on some pizza parlor owner in Heppner employing a 45 year old “younger” 10 year “trainee” and make an example of him.
It’ll go on – new law after new law – ever increasing government meddling in business. After all, it’s the “Progressive” way.
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