Minimum wage must reflect cost of living
When I was growing up, my dad worked with his hands to make ends meet, first as a millwright at a timber mill in Southern Oregon and then as a mechanic in Portland. Although we were never rich, his hard work was enough to provide for our family. On the
On Equal Pay Day, Merkley Calls for Renewed Action
WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement to mark Equal Pay Day – the day each year when women’s earnings catch up to men’s earnings in the previous year. “It is simply outrageous that in the year 2014, every American does not receive equal pay for
Senate Passes Merkley-Backed Extension of Emergency Unemployment Insurance
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today passed legislation cosponsored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and a bipartisan group of Senators to extend emergency federal unemployment benefits. The bipartisan legislation covers workers who have been looking for work for more than six months and includes retroactive payments to those who were
Merkley-Backed Bipartisan Unemployment Deal Moves Toward Final Passage in Senate
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the bipartisan legislation to extend emergency unemployment benefits overcame its final filibuster in the U.S. Senate with 61 votes, allowing a majority-rules vote on final passage on Monday: “In Oregon and across the nation, families looking for work need
Merkley: Ryan Budget Would Be a Deadly Blow to the American Dream
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after Congressman Paul Ryan released his 2015 budget blueprint: “The budget put forth by Congressman Paul Ryan is another attempt to balance the budget on the backs of hardworking middle class families, students and seniors. The Ryan budget would end
Emergency Unemployment Extension Overcomes Key Hurdle
WASHINGTON – Today, the recent bipartisan agreement on an extension of emergency unemployment insurance passed a key hurdle in the U.S. Senate, with 65 Senators voting to move ahead on the bill. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley was among the 10 Senators – five leading Democrats and five leading Republicans –