More great fallout from I-695. Now if we could get right-to-work legislation passed, we could stop the stranglehold the teachers unions have on the Democratic Party.

http://www.columbian.com/

GOP ATTACKS STATE'S PREVAILING WAGE LAW Tuesday, January 18, 2000 By GREGG HERRINGTON, Columbian staff writer Republicans have launched a new attack on the state's 55-year-old prevailing wage law, claiming taxpayers are being shafted and that repeal would mean one "free" school for every eight built. The law, rooted in the Great Depression, bars school districts, cities and other governments embarking on construction projects from finding the best possible labor costs they can get. Instead, their contractors and subcontractors doing public projects are required to pay workers at least as much as the prevailing wage in the largest city in the county. That includes everything from construction of schools, jails and government offices to installation of sewers and power lines to tree trimming that clears the way for construction. A laborer cutting trees on city property in Ridgefield or Yacolt to make way for a building or an addition must be paid at least as much as a worker doing the same job in Vancouver.

-- Mark Stilson (mark842@hotmail.com), January 19, 2000

Answers

I hear this is supposedly a Federal Law.. at least that's what some babbling legislator said... Got any ideas??

-- maddjak (maddjak@hotmail.com), January 19, 2000.

Actually, there IS an equivalent federal law, but unless federal money goes into a project, it doesn't drive any requirement at the state level.

-- (craigcar@crosswinds.net), January 19, 2000.