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Michigan Legislature repeals state’s prevailing wage law

Posted at 3:48 PM, Jun 06, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-06 15:48:33-04

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Republican-led Michigan Legislature has voted to repeal a decades-old law that guarantees higher “prevailing” wages for construction workers on state-financed projects.

Gov. Rick Snyder opposes the bill, but it is veto-proof because it was initiated through a ballot drive. The repeal measure was approved 23-14 by the Senate on Wednesday and 56-53 by the House, mostly on party lines.

Michigan is the fifth conservative-led state to annul its prevailing wage law since 2015.

Republicans say the law costs taxpayers more when school construction and other government projects could be done for less money. Democrats, union contractors and others say the repeal initiative is an attack on workers and the 1965 law ensures they are paid fairly and quality work is done.