Bush Has Another Way to Screw The Gulf States

[mcscajun]

The New York Times calls it "A Shameful Proclamation"; I call it OBSCENE!

Bush just keeps driving that steamroller along, no matter how "down and out" we may think he is. :grr:

From this morning's New York Times Editorial page:

On Thursday, President Bush issued a proclamation suspending the law that requires employers to pay the locally prevailing wage to construction workers on federally financed projects. The suspension applies to parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

By any standard of human decency, condemning many already poor and now bereft people to subpar wages - thus perpetuating their poverty - is unacceptable. It is also bad for the economy. Without the law, called the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors will be able to pay less, but they'll also get less, as lower wages invariably mean lower productivity.

The ostensible rationale for suspending the law is to reduce taxpayers' costs. Does Mr. Bush really believe it is the will of the American people to deny the prevailing wage to construction workers in New Orleans, Biloxi and other hard-hit areas? Besides, the proclamation doesn't require contractors to pass on the savings they will get by cutting wages from current low levels. Around New Orleans, the prevailing hourly wage for a truck driver working on a levee is $9.04; for an electrician, it's $14.30.

Republicans have long been trying to repeal the prevailing wage law on the grounds that the regulations are expensive and bureaucratic; weakening it was even part of the Republican Party platform in 1996 and 2000. Now, in a time of searing need, the party wants to achieve by fiat what it couldn't achieve through the normal democratic process.

The rest here: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/10/opinion/10sat2.html

[malaise]

1. How sick are these men

I can't take much more of this.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. They continue to find ways to screw the working people to benefit the

corporations..even in the midst of every conceivable tragedy.

[fasttense]

3. I can just see those uber rich rubbing their hands and offering 10 cents

an hour. Maybe they will also suspend the child labor laws too.

[napi21]

4. Can Congress over-rule him?

I know they can over-ride a veto (of course they never had to because Shrub NEVER did ANY!), but can they over-ride an Executive Order?

I thin we stand a better chance with Congress because they are up for re-election in a year, Shrub doesn't have to care!

[mcscajun]

8. They can try...and he can suspend that law, too.

Perhaps some constitutional scholar can jump in here and explain where and what the limits/conflicts are...and if there's any way around this mess.

I don't think there is, though...not without a Congress somewhat less complaisant to Bush, anyway.

[OneTwentyoNine]

5. Bush sure as HELL didn't stop the Oil companies from gouging though...

Jesus H. Christ,this guy still has poll numbers slightly under 40%?!?!?!



HOW??

[mrcheerful]

6. Whats new?

Hasn't this been the republican agenda all along?

[mcscajun]

7. Not a thing new...just more of the same.

No change in agenda...and that's the point.

I'm as guilty as anyone else of jumping up and down that Bush is fucked.

But he's not, really...we still are.

[izzie]

9. I thought these were Red States and voted for him?

The spin is more important to this guy than anything else. But hell you know that as well as I do.

[OneTwentyoNine]

10. Paying Walmart wages to run heavy equipment in hellish conditions...

Smart,Bush real FUCKING smart. GOD why did these people in the south vote for that ASSHOLE??

[trof]

11. E-mail I sent to rep and senators:

Send something similar to yours.

9/10/05
I just read this and I am absolutely flabbergasted.
Who needs help along the gulf coast, the Bechtels, Halliburtons, et al, or the people who no longer have a job to go to and desperately need employment?
This is both unbelievable and unacceptable.
XXXX XXXXXX
XXXX XXX XXXX XXXX
Foley, Alabama

On Thursday, President Bush issued a proclamation suspending the law that requires employers to pay the locally prevailing wage to construction workers on federally financed projects. The suspension applies to parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

By any standard of human decency, condemning many already poor and now bereft people to subpar wages - thus perpetuating their poverty - is unacceptable. It is also bad for the economy. Without the law, called the Davis-Bacon Act, contractors will be able to pay less, but they'll also get less, as lower wages invariably mean lower productivity.

The ostensible rationale for suspending the law is to reduce taxpayers' costs. Does Mr. Bush really believe it is the will of the American people to deny the prevailing wage to construction workers in New Orleans, Biloxi and other hard-hit areas? Besides, the proclamation doesn't require contractors to pass on the savings they will get by cutting wages from current low levels. Around New Orleans, the prevailing hourly wage for a truck driver working on a levee is $9.04; for an electrician, it's $14.30.

Republicans have long been trying to repeal the prevailing wage law on the grounds that the regulations are expensive and bureaucratic; weakening it was even part of the Republican Party platform in 1996 and 2000. Now, in a time of searing need, the party wants to achieve by fiat what it couldn't achieve through the normal democratic process.

The rest here: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/10/opinion/10sat2.html

[OneBlueSky]

12. also known as the "Increase Halliburton Profits" declaration . . . n/t

.

[Elwood P Dowd]

13. Bush's construction buddies will import foreign workers

and pay them cash under the table. Most will probably come from Mexico. Many illegals are willing to work for $4.00 an hour for cash. The employer also doesn't pay unemployment insurance, workmans comp, or social security. The Bush Crime Family and their friends will make a fortune.

[ComerPerro]

14. Funny how they only get frugal and penny penching

when it comes to actually helping people.

They have no problem sending us into half-a-trillion dollar deficits to finance their wars and tax cuts, but they suddenly start penching pennies when it comes time to pay people for humanitarian work and disaster recovery?