Efforts to repeal prevailing wage laws are gaining momentum across the country.
Anti-prevailing wage bills that apply to state-funded construction projects have been passed in West Virginia and Nevada. Similar laws could be passed in Indiana and Illinois. Lawmakers in Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin are also making waves for repeal.
The momentum is fueled by Republican-controlled legislatures across the country. Republicans control 68 of 98 partisan state legislative chambers, the most in the party’s history.
In Indiana, Brian C. Bosma, the House speaker, told the New York Times that he believed the change would save at least 10% on government construction projects without gutting the wages of workers.
Opponents say repeals would lower wages and see them as a new front in a battle by Republican legislatures to weaken labor unions. Proponents say the bills are aimed at sparing the budgets of struggling cities and states and ending an inconsistent, sometimes politicized system for calculating what wage should be the standard.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Nov 19, 2021
Creating net-zero/net-positive buildings is top priority in Green Building Trends 2021 report
Findings also demonstrate compelling business case for building green.
Codes and Standards | Nov 19, 2021
Construction Startup Competition 2021 awards highlight tech innovations
AI-powered software to identify and explain critical issues in construction contracts takes top prize.
Codes and Standards | Nov 18, 2021
Infrastructure bill contains $5 billion for energy efficiency in buildings
Wide range of programs to reduce energy use, improve materials, train workers.
Codes and Standards | Nov 17, 2021
Skanska will provide embodied carbon assessments on all new projects over 53,000 sf
Will use the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator it helped create.
Codes and Standards | Nov 16, 2021
NOAA, Univ. of Maryland, and ASCE partner on climate-smart engineering codes, standards
Efforts will account for climate change in future infrastructure design and construction.
Codes and Standards | Nov 15, 2021
Intl. Code Council and Modular Building Institute release new off-site construction standards
‘Will create consistency for off-site construction; accelerate the industry’.
Codes and Standards | Nov 12, 2021
GSA will likely shrink federal office space post-COVID
Agency also needs to address maintenance backlog.
Codes and Standards | Nov 10, 2021
Los Angeles launches fast-track office tenant improvements program
Red tape to be cut to make interiors healthier and safer.
Codes and Standards | Nov 9, 2021
Florida state building professionals call for mandatory high-rise building inspections
Group recommendation comes in wake of Surfside condo collapse.
Codes and Standards | Nov 8, 2021
Dept. of Energy to fund 10 pilot smart building projects
Connected communities will accelerate renewable energy adoption and grid resilience.
