Politics & Government

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UPCOMING DEBATES AND FORUMS AIRING ON KLCC:

Marijuana cultivation and distribution zoning laws aren't perfect in Benton County. Officials are in the middle of a listening tour in hopes of being able to craft changes that benefit businesses and residents. Recently passed legislation puts non-profit medical grow sites at odds with selling to recreational dispensaries. Benton County Assistant Planner Linsey Godwin says in addition to zoning, residents have issues with terminology.

Oregon Democrats left the short legislative session today (Thursday) with at least two policy changes to be happy about. Governor Kate Brown signed a law that will increase the state’s minimum wage over the next five years. And lawmakers were able to approve a bill that will phase out coal fired power plants by 2030. KLCC’s Salem Correspondent Chris Lehman.

Lehman: “That’s something that Democrats say will contribute to cleaner air, but Republicans say, ‘well, it will just jack up electricity rates, and coal power is going to stick around regardless of what Oregon does.’”

Lane County Commissioners have dropped plans to place a public safety levy on the May 17th ballot. The proposal would have funded more sheriff patrols in the rural communities west of Eugene.

Normally, if you do a job, you expect to be properly paid for it. But many workers aren’t given the compensation they’re legally due. One study estimated more than a quarter of low-wage workers were paid less than the legal minimum wage. Another found nearly 90 percent of fast food employees weren’t paid what they were entitled to.

Now, workers’ advocates and Democratic lawmakers in Oregon are pushing to crack down on what they call wage theft.