Bush reinstating wages for Katrina work.

[Dr.Phool]

Signs of a very weak White House?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051026/ap_on_go_pr_wh/katrina_contracts

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."

(snip)

[billybob537]

1. BWAHHAHAHA

a little late for that not pissing off union labor...

[Dr.Phool]

4. Yep, the damage is already done.

Like this morning when a Halliburton subcontractor was caught using illegal aliens for reconstruction on a military base. He got caught when 79 union electricians lost their jobs and were replaced by illegals.

[Arugula Latte]

2. Whoa. I'm very surprised.

These assholes actually caved? That's great.

Isn't Peter King that tremendous putz usually who insulted the DUer constituent who criticized the Little Emperor a couple years ago?

[Gold Metal Flake]

3. Fantastic!

Folks, Fitz will work within his own damn time. We must move along to other issues. This is a major victory. Now what about getting Big Eddie onto Armed Forces Radio? (Or whatever, I'm not trying to set a specific agenda)

Also, rate the story!

[Pepper32]

5. Positive signs indeed! (nt)

[SoCalDem]

6. But, remember....the contracts are already given out

and the contractors don't have to hire union labor.. They will still hand out cheapie jobs to their "imported" laborers, and the contractors who DO use union labor, will probably not be getting any subcontracting work..

The "rule" was supsended when it was most "useful"..

[havocmom]

8. The contractors don't seem to have to hire LEGAL labor either

Where was that story about illegals working for Halliburton on a US Naval base?

[Imalittleteapot]

7. Great! Our complaints

paid off.

Snicker. Bush thinks this is the only thing he has to do to improve his ratings.

[Metta]

9. This is a pro-union gesture, then?

Since when are they concerned about not antagonizng orgaized labor? I think they want to quell whatever anger they can and assume the image of caring about others outside of their base.

[global1]

10. This Move Is To Provide Some Cover For The Impending Indictments.....

this way they have some positive things to tout. Another is that gas prices are going down. Another is that pressure is being put on the oil companies to build more refineries - this is more on an effort to quell criticism of the obscene profits the oil companies are making.

[melissinha]

11. caving, he's getting weak

now, like you guys have said, we will have to complain when they don't use local labor....