Republicans say 'prevailing wage' bill may be added to Governor Scott Walker's budget

MADISON (AP) — Republican lawmakers who support eliminating requirements that public works contractors be paid a prevailing wage say they may add the measure to Governor Scott Walker's state budget.

Rep. Rob Hutton, a Brookfield Republican, says Republican leadership in each chamber is discussing whether the bill should go through a public hearing process or be rolled into the governor's budget.

Wisconsin law says workers on state or local public works projects or on highway projects must be paid wages equivalent to wages paid for similar projects.

The bill would end that and would also block local governments from enacting their own prevailing wage laws or ordinances.

State Senator Leah Vukmir (R– Wauwatosa) is the Senate lead on the bill and says repealing the outdated prevailing wage law will save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. “

All units of government will see significant savings because they will be able to have a more competitive bidding process for their large-scale projects. It provides a clear path to providing taxpayers, municipalities and school districts in Wisconsin further relief. We continue to seek opportunities to decrease property taxes and stretch public dollars at all government levels. Repealing prevailing wage remains the best means to accomplish that goal. Wages should be fair and based on the free market. They shouldn’t be kept artificially high at the expense of taxpayers. If we rescind our prevailing wage law, we will be able to invest more in moving the great people of the Badger State forward," Senator Vukmir said.

The bill is supported by Associated Builders and Contractors, the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, the Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Wisconsin Builders Association, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and many others.