Bush Reinstating Wages for Katrina Work

[bluedog]

*
Bush Reinstating Wages for Katrina Work

By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer 6 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration will reinstate rules requiring that companies awarded federal contracts for Hurricane Katrina pay prevailing wages, usually an amount close to the pay scales in local union contracts.


Rep. Peter King (news, bio, voting record), R-N.Y., was among congressmen critical of the administration's decision to waive the requirement and who met Wednesday with White House chief of staff Andrew Card. He said Card told them the wage requirement would be reinstated Nov. 8.

"We thought it was bad policy and bad politics, and I guess they accepted our argument," King told The Associated Press. "There's no need to antagonize organized labor."

more ...........



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051026/ap_on_go_pr_wh/katrina_contracts;_ylt=AlV.I5drpblgx.7.dmTD71QD5gcF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--

[willing dwarf]

1. This is good news! I'm glad to hear it.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. read that as

no need to antagonize the working people in my district who will switch back to the Dems because your dog and pony show has made them realize that the repukes don't care about anyone but the super rich.

[Blaq Dem]

47. The poor conservative rednecks must've complained about it

I imagined they've gotten a bit hungry over these past couple of months since the hurricane. No home, no job, no food, yet they're expected to build their town with next-to-nothing wages.

[Epiphany4z]

3. THUD

wow...never expected to hear this one...ya know maybe Rove and Libbly going bye bye will be good for GW.

[rodeodance]

8. more like the WH is running its engine on 'scared"

[Epiphany4z]

15. "more like the WH is running its engine on 'scared""

Didn't stop and think of that...mind you I am not bitching I am so glad they reinstated it.

[MidwestTransplant]

20. Exactly

Dems in the House figured out a way to bring it to a vote. Delay and co knew they would get crushed realized the jig was up.

[krkaufman]

37. Yes, I think you nailed it. Dems' vote would create a record of Rethug...

... opposition to Davis-Bacon.

[LibinMo]

4. Wonder if they will rebid the contracts?

Or will the companies that were awarded contracts have to eat the increased labor costs?

[Spazito]

5. But...but...but...how dare he re-instate something Janet Parshall

of 'fingers in ears' fame doesn't know about??? If Janet doesn't know about it, it just doesn't exist, doncha know! roflmao

[Fridays Child]

13. I wonder if her fingertips met inside her cranium.

[gratuitous]

6. Wow, they crumbled, even temporarily, on cheap labor?

This would be a good time to press the advantage, Democrats.

[rodeodance]

7. immoral action by the WH --to slap workers in the face with low wages.

[Algorem]

9. good old Bush,everybody's friend

[lilymidnite]

10. flip-flopper

*sarcasm*

[Tight_rope]

21. You took the words right outta my mouth!

[Lochloosa]

22. I think you can get rid of the *sarcasm*....

[uppityperson]

11. Labor's Hurricane George vs Federal contracts?

You realize what this article is about is Federal Contracts? Here's an op-ed article from yesterday about the regular workers. No need to antagonize organized labor, but we can still have slavery-lite!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002581100_harrop25.html

New Orleans offers a quick study of Bush labor policy in action: On Aug. 29, Hurricane Katrina strikes, causing widespread destruction. Four days later, President Bush commits $10.1 billion of the taxpayers' money to rebuilding New Orleans. Four days after that, he suspends the Davis-Bacon Act — the law that requires federal contractors to pay workers the going local rate.

Illegal immigrants, willing to work at less-than-prevailing wages, stream into New Orleans. And a mere six weeks after the last evacuee leaves the Superdome, we hear of complaints by illegal workers that employers are stiffing them of their meager pay.

So here you have it, a lesson on how to crush the market for blue-collar labor. And it could have been done in four PowerPoint slides.

In the Bush view, market forces may do their magic for some Americans, but not for others. They can operate freely when they raise the prices for stocks, oil or real estate. But when they raise the price for American labor, something must be done.

More at link.

[bigbrother05]

12. It's for Florida. don't want to make Jeb look bad

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. Every single Democrat opposed the wage reduction, if I remember correctly

And yet they only mention Peter King (R).

Curious, that.

[fasttense]

16. Yeah sure now after the contracts have been given out to Halliburton

and friends, after they have artificially lowered the prevailing wage, after they have looted the treasury of all they want. A little too little too late.

[Rose Siding]

17. Bush blew his last nickle of political capitol

No bunker buster nukes and now this. His agenda is radioactive.

[rocktivity]

18. Not a Fitz-mas present, but a great consolation prize!

Cue the Vonage theme--and don't you DARE think that we can't make a difference.

:woohoo:
rocknation

[Mizmoon]

19. I bet they couldn't find enough legal workers

willing to work for whatever slave wage they were offering.

[NoAmericanTaliban]

34. Done to help out the corporations not the workers

This is not done to help out the workers but the for the have-mores to fulfill the contracts. They are having a hard time finding workers at the low wages that are being offered. Even illegals aren't applying. This was a bonehead move to begin with. I saw a CNN report a few weeks ago when they were interviewing transplants living in Texas. They were happily employed there doing construction work for more money that they had been making. When asked if they will go back to N.O - the answer was no. When asked why - we make more money here. I knew then that they would eventually have to bring back the Bacon act, but I didn't think it would happen this quick. Of course they will spin this as an act conservative compassion. What baloney!!

I bet that in a few weeks * will get more tax payers money in the hands of the corp. in order for them to make up the profits they are losing by having to increase wages. They will spin it as money to assist the Katrina victims. Don't fall for it.

[Miss Chybil]

23. Woohoo! I hate Peter King. He's an ass. But, Woohoo, anyway!

:woohoo:

[papau]

24. Bush Administration Will Reinstate Prevailing Wages on Katrina Contracts

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB94SYU9FE.html

Bush Administration Will Reinstate Prevailing Wages on Katrina Contracts

By Devlin Barrett Associated Press Writer

Published: Oct 26, 2005

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration will reinstate rules requiring that companies awarded federal contracts for Hurricane Katrina pay prevailing wages, usually an amount close to the pay scales in local union contracts.

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., was among congressmen critical of the administration's decision to waive the requirement and who met Wednesday with White House chief of staff Andrew Card. He said Card told them the wage requirement would be reinstated Nov. 8.

"We thought it was bad policy and bad politics, and I guess they accepted our argument," King told The Associated Press. "There's no need to antagonize organized labor."
<snip>

In the immediate aftermath of Katrina, President Bush suspended provisions of the 1931 Davis-Bacon Act, which sets wages for employees on federal contracts to ensure they are not underpaid.
<snip>

[CottonBear]

25. That is really good news! The Repubs are turning on Bu$h.

:)

[skypilot]

26. Scrambling to get those poll numbers back up.

*

[xultar]

27. So, you're bankrupt on political capital are ya?

:rofl:

But you managed to get the most for Haliburton in the mean time.

[SharonRB]

31. LOL -- we posted at exactly the same time

You owe me a Coke.

[SharonRB]

28. This is really good news.

Guess Bush realizes he doesn't have the political capital anymore to allow him to be stubborn and never change his mind.

[papau]

30. I agree - best knews today! :-)

:-)

[xultar]

33. Great minds think a like!!

:hugs:

[napi21]

29. Oops! Don't want the Congress over-ruling the Pres now!!!

I heard they were supposed to hav a vote on that soon. BEtcha King call the WH and said, you better change your mind guys, caus it's gonna be changed for ya!

[sasquatch]

32. I'm glad to see that we're getting some traction

Maybe we can get the back in 2006.

[Sadie5]

35. Bush is an a$$

he only reinstated the wages after he notices what political he had left was flushing down the toilet. Watch him sneak around and pull something underhanded in a closed door session to change this.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

36. anyone know how many no bid contracts were awarded?

and to who?

[Mountainman]

38. Poll numbers can still get worse Mr Bush, better not piss anymore people

off. Oh I forgot Bush doesn't pay attention to polls.

[Rainscents]

39. You have to give Senator Mary L BIG credit for this one! She had been

screaming on this issue!!! Good for her!!!

[reprobate]

40. Hey George. I know how to get your numbers up. RESIGN!

[truthpusher]

41. Bush reinstates prevailing wages for Katrina

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/343dcea4-468a-11da-8880-00000e2511c8.html

Bush reinstates prevailing wages for Katrina work
----------------
By Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington
Published: October 27 2005 02:58 | Last updated: October 27 2005 02:58
----------------
The Bush administration on Wednesday yielded to growing bipartisan pressure and agreed to reinstate a workers rights law - the Davis-Bacon Act - that had been waived in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The emergency order allowed federal contractors rebuilding areas destroyed by the hurricane to pay workers less than the area’s prevailing wage.

The suspension of Davis-Bacon on September 8 had been widely criticised by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and union leaders, who said the act further undermined a workforce that had been devastated by the storm.

“You may save a couple of dollars an hour by suspending Davis-Bacon, but you invite all kinds of other problems, including the hiring of unskilled workers and illegal workers in the Gulf Coast,” said Frank LoBiondo, a New Jersey congressman.

(snip)

Democratic lawmakers praised the White House's reversal, claiming that the move was the result of pressure from Democrats, labour leaders and religious groups.

“Bush reversed his decision after a public outcry and bipartisan opposition to his worker pay cut in the House and Senate,” said John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, the labour union.

(snip)

complete story: http://news.ft.com/cms/s/343dcea4-468a-11da-8880-00000e2511c8.html

[William769]

42. Now tell me he's not sweating bullets.

[electron_blue]

43. oh good

[Dora]

44. The landslide BEGINS!

A concession... a change of course... a silent admission of failure...

This is just the first of many to come.

[struggle4progress]

45. Raise consciousness. Organize outrage. It works. eom

[WhiteTara]

46. nothing like low poll numbers to

help make monkey boy listen--even if he doesn't pay attention to poll numbers.

[0007]

48. That's good. n/t

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Algorem]

50. Bush faced an Embarassing defeat in the House-unanimous Dems & 37

Republicans

Workers Win Fair Wages as Bush Backs off Davis-Bacon Suspension

http://www.aflcio.org/issues/jobseconomy/jobs/ns10262005.cfm

Oct. 26—In response to working families and their unions, as well as community and religious groups and some members of Congress, President George W. Bush on Oct. 26 rescinded his executive order that allowed contractors to pay substandard wages to construction workers rebuilding Gulf Coast areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The order, which suspended the federal Davis-Bacon Act, now will expire Nov. 8.

Grassroots activists sent more than 350,000 e-mails and letters to their representatives demanding fair wages be reinstated for the Gulf Coast, where skilled, full-time workers average less than $20,000 a year in pay.

One of Bush’s first acts after Hurricane Katrina hit was suspending Davis-Bacon. Enacted in 1931, Davis-Bacon ensures high-quality work standards and community prevailing wage requirements for federally funded rebuilding projects. A few days after suspending Davis-Bacon, Bush also suspended affirmative action rules for Katrina contractors.

“President Bush has done the right thing by reversing his decision to suspend prevailing wage—but it’s only the first step. He must now reinstate affirmative action requirements for contractors in the Gulf and end his attempts to slash programs for working families while adding new tax breaks for the rich,” says AFL-CIO President John Sweeney...

[Algorem]

52. details-Prevailing wages to resume soon for Katrina labor -

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1130405886136260.xml&coll=2

Thursday, October 27, 2005
Sabrina Eaton
Plain Dealer Bureau

Washington - The White House agreed Wednesday to restore a requirement that companies pay prevailing local wages on federal contracts to repair Hurricane Katrina damage.

President Bush angered organized labor and congressional Democrats in September by using the emergency to suspend federal wage requirements for hurricane rebuilding contracts. The payments are mandated by the 1931 Davis-Bacon Act.

Advocates of the waiver said it would reduce the costs and bureaucratic hurdles of rebuilding, while detractors said it would punish local workers who were already suffering because of the disaster. Pressure to reverse the waiver grew after companies with rebuilding contracts hired foreigners in lieu of local workers.

A group of Republicans led by Rep. Steve LaTourette of Concord Township objected to the change, and every Democrat in the House of Representatives signed onto a bill to repeal it. Reps. Bob Ney of Heath and Mike Turner of Dayton were among the 37 Republicans who opposed the wage standards waiver...

[leesa]

51. How magnanimous of the king! Perhaps we will get ice cream on Sundays too

[trogdor]

53. So let me get this straight...

...we win, but that asshole Peter King gets to take the trophy home? Is that it? :grr: