Democrats speak out in favor of $15 minimum wage

Several Democratic lawmakers have thrown their support behind a bill that would boost Oregon's minimum wage to $15 by 2018.

Democrats lauded the benefits of raising the state's already higher-than-average minimum wage even higher during a press conference Wednesday morning at the Capitol.

"I stand here for one very straightforward reason," said Sen. Chip Shields, D-Portland, during the conference. "People in my district want a chance, not charity."

House Bill 2009 would raise the minimum wage statewide in gradations over a three-year period — to $11.50 an hour in 2016, $13.25 in 2017 and finally to the magic number, $15 per hour, by 2018.

A similar bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate in just a few days.

Shields was joined by three other lawmakers: Rep. Lew Fredrick, D-Portland, Rep. Ann Lininger, D-Lake Oswego and Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, to publicly announce their support for the measure.

"Fifteen is not just an arbitrary number here in Oregon," said Justin Norton-Kerson, co-founder of 15 Now Oregon, the organization behind the effort. "Studies point to $15 an hour as the right number that gets working families out of poverty and off public assistance."

According to advocates, increasing the minimum wage will mean a substantial benefit to 197,000 Oregonians currently on public assistance. A higher minimum wage means less reliance on these programs, they argue, which will translate into a $1.7 billion savings for Oregon taxpayers.

For another 300,000 Oregonians in low-wage industries but not on public assistance, raising the minimum wage means more money back to them — which means increased local spending, advocates claim.

"We need to more toward an economy that works for all Oregonians," Buckley said. "We're starting to see increases in wages. But we need to take a bold step."

Critics of raising Oregon's minimum wage have argued the action would translate into higher costs for small businesses to bear.

But Norton-Kerson said his organization stands firmly behind $15 for the minimum wage, "and nothing less."

"We're all concerned about local business and small business," he said. "It's something that's dear to our hearts. But study after study shows that small businesses actually thrive and grow faster in states with higher wages."

House Bill 2009 is currently in the House Committee on Business and Labor.

lfosmire@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6709 or follow on Twitter at @fosmirel