On the recordFebruary 3, 2011
I oppose this amendment also. There are reasons for Davis-Bacon. One of them, for example, is it protects communities and employers by keeping the wage standards of low-wage areas from being imported into high-wage areas, and also the reverse. What do I mean by that? Obviously, West Virginia has a very different wage level than New York or Maryland or many parts of Virginia. They could come in and bid on a contract and either bid very low and do a bad job or bid very high and get it, for whatever reason. This prevents artificially inflating wages. The inference was that it costs more to have Davis-Bacon. Some people don't like Davis-Bacon, and I understand that. But the law specifically requires that all workers must be paid no less than the prevailing wages and benefits that are paid in similar projects in that area. So it attaches the Davis-Bacon concept onto the regional local wage area. Virginia and Maryland are not far from West Virginia, so people want contracts, and they are likely to bid. Since it was enacted, Davis-Bacon has protected taxpayers and workers from low-ball contractors who try to compete. You know that song. We all see it so much. They come in and bid a low price, and they get it, and there are all kinds of extra things added on--cost-plus. It doesn't happen under this; it isn't allowed. So the law effectively makes sure the taxpayers get their money's worth.
