The Oregon House on Thursday gave final legislative approval to a hotly debated move to hike Oregon's minimum wage over six years, split into three geographic regions. Here's some of the flood of reaction to that move, in statements we received, in full.

First, Gov. Kate Brown:

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today released the following statement in response to the Oregon House of Representatives' passage of SB 1532, a plan to increase Oregon's minimum wage:

"Today’s action advances one of my priorities for 2016: raise the minimum wage," said Governor Brown. "I started this conversation last fall, bringing stakeholders together to craft a workable proposal; one that gives working families the much-needed wage boost they need, and addresses challenges for businesses and rural economies presented by the two impending ballot measures. I look forward to signing this bill."

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The Oregon House Republican Office:

House Democrats Adopt Partisan And Costly Minimum Wage Mandate

Salem, OR - With unprecedented speed and little regard for potential consequences, House Democrats today adopted a partisan wage mandate that rapidly increases Oregon’s minimum wage to the highest rate in the country. SB 1532, which establishes a three-tiered system for determining minimum wage rates based on the geographical location of an employer, was approved by a narrow vote of 32-26, with several moderate Democrats joining Republicans in opposing the legislation. Republicans argued the bill will result in layoffs, lost hours, and increased costs for all Oregonians.

“There is a better way - but the consequences of this bill are layoffs, lost hours, and rising costs for all our neighbors. This isn’t hypothetical - there will be a real impact on real people,” said Representative John Davis (R-Wilsonville).

The bill, which was negotiated behind closed doors and rushed through the House without a review by the Legislature’s budget committee, has the potential to devastate the state’s economy and expose Oregonians to harmful consequences. Employers, faced with rapidly rising labor costs, may be forced to choose between cutting hours, increasing costs, or both. Oregonians, in turn, are likely to see the cost of living in Oregon rise, as the economy attempts to adjust to such a sudden and significant shift in labor costs. Low- and middle-income working families will be hit particularly hard, as the costs of daycare, healthcare, and other essential goods and services rise.

“I’m worried that this proposal could have serious unintended consequences,” said Representative Sherrie Sprenger (R-Scio). “Oregonians will see prices rise with the passage of this bill. Low- and middle-income families will disproportionately feel the burden of cost inflation and a tightening of the labor market. I am not willing to put the most vulnerable members of our society at risk in pursuit of a reckless policy that fails to fully account for potential consequences.”

“For those of us who represent rural communities, we know firsthand what poverty looks like,” added House Republican Leader Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte). “We understand, that while well-intentioned, SB 1532 will have a detrimental impact on the very people it was designed to help. In passing this bill, Democrats are accepting those consequences.”

In addition to having harmful impacts on Oregon’s economy and increasing prices for Oregon families, SB 1532 will likely have the effect of increasing legislator salaries. According to an opinion by the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Counsel, “Unless the [Public Officials Compensation Commission] decides to recommend a salary increase that is more substantial than those offered in the past, SB 1532-A would require an increase to members’ annual salaries in 2022 to avoid dropping approximately $1,010 below the statutory minimum salary.”

Having already passed the Senate, SB 1532 now moves to Governor Brown’s desk. Governor Brown has indicated she will sign the bill into law.

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Service Employees International Union 503:

 Following today’s vote to approve an increase in Oregon’s minimum wage by the Oregon House of Representatives, SEIU 503 President Rob Sisk issued the following statement:

“While the proposal that passed the House floor today is not the plan that we would have written, it is a meaningful raise for Oregon’s working families and will help our state’s economic future. The governor and Oregon’s legislators have demonstrated leadership by approving a higher wage for hundreds of thousands of working Oregonians, even in the face of intense lobbying by corporate special interests. While a higher wage will create economic opportunities for families across the state, we recognize that it isn’t a silver bullet for addressing poverty. We will continue our work to level the playing field and make sure every Oregonian has a fair shot to get ahead.”

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The Coalition to Defend Oregon Jobs:

MASSIVE WAGE HIKE WILL KILL JOBS, COST CONSUMERS, THREATEN LOCAL SERVICES

All Republicans and two Democrats demonstrate wisdom and courage in opposing massive wage hike; coalition calls on Governor and Democratic Leaders to publicly oppose any wage ballot measure

Salem, Ore.—Ignoring concerns raised by Oregonians across the state, the House passed a massive minimum wage hike today that will kill an estimated 66,100 jobs over the next seven years, raise the cost of food, child care and other staples important to working families, and force local governments to choose between raising taxes or cutting services.

“Once again, the Portland politicians won but the rest of Oregon lost with today’s vote,” said Jason Brandt, President & CEO of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association and spokesman for the Coalition to Defend Oregon Jobs. “Our coalition appreciates the leadership of the Republicans who fought hard against this misguided plan and the two Democrats who voted against it – Rep. John Lively and Rep. Caddy McKeown,” said Brandt.

Over the past few weeks, farmers, employers, local government officials, school leaders and concerned citizens contacted legislators about the massive wage hike and provided details about how it would harm their livelihoods, families and communities.

Economists also pointed to unintended consequences for fixed-income seniors, college students in work-study programs and single mothers receiving government benefits such as food stamps or child care assistance. Newspaper editorial writers were united in warning the Legislature against adopting a dramatic wage hike that would disrupt the state’s economic recovery.