Cass Ballenger: “I hope that my colleagues were able to see the NBC news story last night featuring Davis-Bacon as part of an ongoing…”

“I hope that my colleagues were able to see the NBC news story last night featuring Davis-Bacon as part of an ongoing series on 'The Fleecing of America.' For those who missed the story, I am submitting a copy of the transcript for the Record. The report covered an investigation into the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates for Oklahoma. Survey data listing non-existent projects and ghost employees was submitted to the Department in an apparent effort to inflate the wages paid on Federal construction projects. For example, a Federal wage survey form was submitted to the Department documenting a construction project in Mustang, OK, which was never built, needed, or even proposed. This is just one example of what may well be a systemic problem with the administration of the Davis-Bacon Act by the Department of Labor. Sixty-three years of artificially high construction costs are enough. The Davis-Bacon Act should be buried among other legislative antiquities. It is the perfect example of an outdated, expensive and unnecessary law. Whether or not the Davis-Bacon Act was ever really needed is debatable; but today Davis-Bacon remains law, giving some construction workers a bonus at the bargaining table at the taxpayer's expense.”