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0 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 Younger anglers now need own license ... Emergency services, March 4 ... Pot grows illegal on rural residential land in Jackson County ... Younger anglers now need own license ... Emergency services, March 4 ... Pot grows illegal on rural residential land in Jackson County ... SALEM Obama praises Oregon's new landmark minimum-wage law Comment By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press Posted Mar. 2, 2016 at 3:38 PM By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press Posted Mar. 2, 2016 at 3:38 PM » Social News SALEM — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed trailblazing legislation Wednesday that will raise the minimum wage to nearly $15 in six years and do so through a three-tiered system that has not been tried anywhere else in the country. "I'm proud to sign into law my top priority of the 2016 Legislative session - raising the minimum wage," Brown said in a statement. She said the new law "is a path forward - so working families can catch up, and businesses have time to plan for the increase." President Obama said Congress needs to follow Oregon's example and raise the federal minimum wage — now at $7.25 an hour. "I commend the Oregon Legislature and Governor Kate Brown for taking action to raise their state's minimum wage," Obama said in a statement. The president said 18 states and the District of Columbia have acted since he first called on Congress to increase the federal standard in 2013. Oregon's plan follows moves in states such as Massachusetts, California and Vermont that recently boosted statewide minimums above $10. The Oregon increases over six years surpass those adopted by any other state so far. Oregon's current minimum wage is $9.25 an hour. What makes the Oregon plan especially different is that the minimums will be based on where workers are employed. The approach aims to balance the needs of the rapidly growing urban powerhouse of Portland with the state's struggling farming communities, which have long been deeply divided by their economic, cultural and political differences. Portland's minimum will rise to $14.75 by 2022, smaller cities to $13.50 and rural areas to $12.50. The first increases will occur in July, when the wage minimum goes up by 50 cents in Portland and smaller cities and 25 cents in rural communities. By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Kristena Hansen The Associated Press Posted Mar. 2, 2016 at 3:38 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events 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