The Missouri House passed HB 828, which would gut the state's prevailing wage law. The LMC has a long-standing position in favor of the state's current prevailing wage law and opposes HB 828. We are hopeful it will fail to gain traction in the Senate.
The LMC supports prevailing wage because independent studies have consistently demonstrated that the prevailing wage law enables public bodies in all parts of Missouri and other states to get the best value in construction. No evidence is available showing that a weak or nonexistent prevailing wage law will save taxpayers money. The assumption that avoiding or weakening prevailing wage would save money is one that confuses price with cost. The reasons that Missouri’s current prevailing wage statutes provide the best value for public, construction include:
•Prevailing wage statutes attract contractors who employ higher skill workers who are more efficient, provide higher quality work and a safer worksite;
•Prevailing wage statutes help maintain a high quality construction workforce that is available when state and local governments and private sector businesses need work done;
•Prevailing wage statues help local contractors remain competitive with fly-by-night out of town contractors who may submit lower bids but do not, in the end, provide lower costs;
•Qualified, adequately-paid local workers and successful local contractors improve the local and state government tax base. Lower wages translate into lower tax revenues and lower quality of life.
We thank KC area legislators who voted no: Ira Anders, Michael Brown, Pat Conway, Jason Holsman, Leonard Hughes, Brent Lasater, Gail McCann-Beatty, Tom McDonald, Kevin McManus, Chris Molendorp, Jean Peters-Baker, John Rizzo, Ryan Silvey, Jay Swearingen and Mike Talboy.