'Living wage' could be factor in govt contracts

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald-AP

By SAM HANANEL

WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House is looking at a new policy that would give an advantage in bidding on government contracts to companies that offer generous benefits and good pay.

But business groups opposing the idea maintain it would shut out smaller businesses from competing for more than $500 billion a year in federal contracts and increase government procurement costs.

The policy is known as "high road" contracting and could draw the Obama administration into a larger debate over whether the government should use public purse strings to strengthen the middle class and promote higher labor standards.

Advocates of the plan include unions. They say too many jobs financed by government contracts come with low wages and limited benefits and support companies that violate employment laws.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20100226/AP05/302259678

[mopinko]

1. well, god forbid the us government should take the high road.

o needs to watch his back on this. there are a lot of powerful people who get very upset when they hear the phrase "living wage".

[CatholicEdHead]

11. They are playing the average workers against government paid workers

Say a state/city/federal government job pays $12-15 an hour, I keep hearing attack points designed to make those who are underpaid at say Wally World at $7-8/hr to get jealous of those in the government sector. So the underpaid workers would rather have everyone paid at the same low level they do. Everyone is screaming for low pay to equal things out :crazy: . Those at the top continue to pocket the difference. Talk about reverse revolution.

[mopinko]

13. yup.

how they made people hate the unions, too.

[w4rma]

2. How would this policy shut out smaller businesses? That assertion makes no sense to me. (nt)

[Abq_Sarah]

4. Companies that have the business

To support wages and benefits above industry standards don't need those contracts. They don't "help" them in the same way they help a business struggling in a depressed economic area.

[Hello_Kitty]

9. I don't understand this attitude.

Economically depressed areas need good paying jobs even more IMHO. How else do they rise out of the economic depression?

[jody]

3. Another opportunity to see how "living wage" policies affect economic growth v. "prevailing wage".

[denverbill]

5. Personally, I'd be happier if they just guaranteed the jobs went to Americans.

I know it's asking a lot, but since it's American's tax money being doled out, and the loans we are taking out to pay for our debt are America's responsibility to pay off, I think it's kinda reasonable. I know that's pretty damned socialist of me but what the hell.

[Dappleganger]

7. +1

[harmonicon]

6. fuck that: how about they make the minimum wage a living wage?

The that's what the minimum wage should be, instead of the minimum you can pay the prole before they start killing the bosses.

[Arctic Dave]

8. Doesn't Davis-Bacon wages already cover this? n/t

[mopinko]

12. davis-bacon, hahahahahahahahahhahhaaaa

you think anybody enforces davis bacon? only in areas with strong unions that they can peg it to.

[Festivito]

10. Good. The state has interests in assuring its taxpayers are well paid.

And, they should make sure.

[Chemical Bill]

14. Even the workers in China? n/t