From category archives: ABC Academy & GA Articles

West Virginia Enacts Prevailing Wage Repeal and Right to Work

On Feb. 12, the West Virginia Legislature voted to override Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s vetoes of  a prevailing wage repeal bill and the West Virginia Workplace Freedom Act, making West Virginia the 26th Right to Work state in the country and the fourth state to pass Right to Work since 2012. 
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New Hampshire Rejects Prevailing Wage Bill

Last week, the New Hampshire House rejected a bill (House Bill 1641) that would have required prevailing wage be paid on all state construction projects. Citing a union-backed study, proponents of the bill argued the legislation would create jobs, spur economic activity, and raise workers’ wages without increasing the cost of projects. Opponents rejected those assertions and insisted the state would pay more for construction projects under the provisions of the bill.  Read the rest of entry »

Wisconsin Reforms Prevailing Wage Laws

During a controversial budget session, Wisconsin significantly reformed its prevailing wage laws with the help of the ABC Wisconsin Chapter which organized a coalition of local chambers of commerce, school districts, small businesses, and municipal utilities to repeal prevailing wage requirements on all Wisconsin public works projects except those built by the state of Wisconsin and state highway projects. 
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West Virginia Has No Prevailing Wage Due to Impasse

Associated Builders and Contractors of West Virginia (ABCWV) voiced its concerns over the newly presented methodology for the calculation of prevailing wage rates in West Virginia after Workforce West Virginia released a summary of its report on June 1. The report, a product of prevailing wage reform legislation (S.B. 361) signed  March 12 by West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D), illustrates how new methodology will determine  forthcoming prevailing wage rates on state-funded public improvements.  However, because Workforce West Virginia failed to publish its new prevailing wage calculations by the July 1 deadline because lawmakers complained the methodology ran afoul of legislative intent, the state is currently without a prevailing wage for state-funded projects. 
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Indiana Eliminates Prevailing Wage Law

Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) signed the ABC-led repeal of common construction wage into law May 6, eliminating prevailing wage requirements for publicly-funded construction projects in Indiana effective July 1. The ABC Indiana/Kentucky chapter played a significant role in ensuring the state understood the negative effects the legislation has on taxpayers, helping to make Indiana the 19th state with no prevailing wage requirements on taxpayer-funded construction.
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Military Construction Bill Subjected To Blacklisting and Davis Bacon Amendments

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act April 30 for Fiscal Year 2016 (H.R. 2029). While on the floor, two amendments were introduced that impact federal contractors.
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Study Finds Flaws in Wisconsin's Prevailing Wage Methods

In a study evaluating Wisconsin's approach to calculating prevailing wages and its financial impact on taxpayers, the nonpartisan, nonprofit, and independent Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) found at least two methodological flaws that tend to raise prevailing wages above market rates. Read the rest of entry »

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval Signs Prevailing Wage Exemption Bill

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) March 6 signed S.B. 119, which will exempt K-12 and higher education school construction from state prevailing wage requirements beginning immediately.
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States Push Forward with Prevailing Wage Reform

Lawmakers in a number of states have made reforming outdated prevailing wage laws a major priority so far in 2015. In the past month, legislators in West Virginia, Nevada and Indiana have advanced legislation that attempts to narrow the types of construction projects affected by prevailing wage, and in some cases, to remove the law entirely. Read the rest of entry »

Guidance Issued for Medicare Policies and Federal Prevailing Wage Statutes

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance in December 2014 clarifying their Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) policies regarding employees who are subject to federal prevailing wage statutes. Read the rest of entry »