Raising the Wage & CDL Change

Last week the Washington State House voted to raise the state's already record high minimum wage to $12 an hour incrementally over the next four years. It's raised a lot of concern in the ag industry as to how producers would survive if the measure passes the Senate and gets signed by the governor. Now the idea of a higher minimum wage is gaining traction in Oregon. Oregon House Bill 2009 would raise Oregon's minimum wage in increments over the next three years, finally setting the wage at $15 in 2018. As with the Washington bill supporters believe that by increasing the wage that workers will have more income to then turn around and spend in the state bolstering the state's coffers.

If you are looking at getting your commercial driver's license in Washington State there's a change coming. Jim Fitzgerald, Executive Director for Far West Agribusiness.

FITZGERALD: Washington is going to comply and follow the lead of the American Association of Motor Vehicles Administrators which has put into place some new federal rules that simply says that once you get your CDL, commercial drivers license, learning permit you are going to have to wait 14 days or until the 15th day until you are able to first take the skills test or the driving test. I guess they would like to make sure that everybody has adequate time to practice.

That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.