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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Security beefed up at national wildlife refuges in Oregon, California, Nevada ... Since You Asked: Why does the flag fly at half-staff? ... Medford standoff ends with man in custody ... Security beefed up at national wildlife refuges in Oregon, California, Nevada ... Since You Asked: Why does the flag fly at half-staff? ... Medford standoff ends with man in custody ... OUR VIEW Our View: Potential ballot measures driving the session MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jan. 31, 2016 @ 12:01 am Posted Jan. 31, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Oregon lawmakers who will convene the 2016 session this week are already bickering over how much business they should tackle in the 35 days the session may last under state law. Minority Republicans are blasting the Democrats, who control both chambers, for pushing major legislation they say is better suited to the longer 2017 session. Republicans argue the short session, approved by voters in 2010, was intended to make adjustments to the budget that couldn't wait a year and to address other emergencies, such fixing flaws in previously passed bills. The Republicans are right, but they overlook one problem: Oregon's system of initiatives that allow the voters to enact new laws without — and sometimes despite — the Legislature. This year, measures could wind up on the November ballot that would increase the minimum wage, promote renewable energy, increase taxes on large corporations and privatize liquor sales. The Democrats argue it's better that the Legislature address these issues now than wait for voters to enact more drastic changes. The minimum wage is a case in point. One measure now being circulated would set $15 an hour as the minimum statewide. Democratic leaders are proposing a two-tiered approach that would raise the minimum to $15.52 in Portland by 2022, $13.50 elsewhere, which Democrats say would be less of a burden on rural employers. Polls conducted last fall showed considerable support among voters for raising the minimum wage and for increasing corporate taxes. Whether that support will stay strong enough to pass the initiatives in November is another question, but lawmakers are not the only ones hoping to head off ballot measures. Pacific Power, Portland General Electric and a coalition of environmental groups have worked out a compromise bill to phase out Oregon utilities' reliance on coal in hopes of heading off a proposed ballot measure. We have mixed feelings about increasing minimum wage and about what amounts to taxing corporate gross sales rather than profits — but lawmakers would be foolish to ignore the support for those measures on the assumption they won't pass. Republicans have a legitimate complaint about the majority party pushing through major changes in a short session, but the GOP may find legislative compromise is preferable to leaving those issues to the voters. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jan. 31, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501