Republican Union Busting Goes Federal

The Republican sponsored push for labor union busting legislation, which has been steadily creeping eastward through state capitals from Madison through Indianapolis to Columbus, has finally arrived at the U. S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Introduced by North Carolina Representative Virginia Foxx, and cosponsored by Representatives James Lankford of Oklahoma, Jason Chaffetz of Utah, Ron Paul of Texas and Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia, H.R. 1846 would repeal the Davis Bacon Act’s prevailing wage requirements on any construction contract paid for in whole or in part with Federal Highway Trust Fund money, if the invitation for bids on the project is issued after the effective date of the legislation.

The one page repealer bill is now in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. If your Representative is on the sponsorship list for H.R. 1846, or is serving on either Committee to which the bill has been referred, now is the time to write and let them know your position on this anti-labor legislation.

Wastewater Treatment Construction Appropriations Expected Soon

Wednesday, March 4, the House Transportation Water Resources Subcommittee approved, on a voice vote, H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009, and sent the bill along to the full House Transportation Committee for consideration. The Act appropriates $13.8 billion over five years for waste water infrastructure projects, in addition to the billions already appropriated in the economic stimulus legislation. The only Republican objection to this particular appropriation is its imposition of Davis Bacon prevailing wage requirements on contractors who are awarded these projects. The bill is expected to pass both houses in regular order and create thousands of construction jobs in western and southwestern United States, as well as the Great Lakes area and along the Ohio River.