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State Representative Sheldon Johnson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4201
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E-Update
2012 SESSION UPDATE
Friends,
A bill that the House will soon consider would change the way Minnesota sets prevailing wage. House File 1476 changes the formula the state uses to set prevailing wage for outstate Minnesota, making it based on a mean rather than a mode.
For example, if five electricians in Cook County are paid $20 per hour and one is paid $12, the prevailing wage, if set by mode, would be $20 per hour. But if the mean is used, n this scenario would be $20 per hour; but the mean wage is only $18.40.
The workers who work on state-funded projects would experience a substantial reduction in their take-home pay. For the seven-county metropolitan area, the mode would still be used.
The goal of this bill is clear; it is to reduce the wages paid to workers who are covered by prevailing wage -- Minnesotans who work for private employers on publicly funded projects such as highway maintenance or construction of a new building for MnSCU.
According to supporters of the bill, scaling back our prevailing wage requirements will save the state money, but this is not the case. A 2007 study by the nonpartisan Legislative Auditor showed that prevailing wage does not increase construction costs on public projects.
The bill also change the threshold for when workers on prevailing wage projects can earn overtime to 10 hours a day or 40 hours a week.
Bonding update
On Thursday, the House debated the Capitol renovation bonding bill. It is a worthy bill. After years of neglect, the seat of Minnesota government has fallen into serious disrepair. Legislators would be wise to take action now.
But our state’s infrastructure has fallen into serious disrepair, too. Gov. Dayton unveiled a $775 million bonding bill more than three months ago. It’s time that we act on his proposal.
The Republicans’ meager bonding bill is another missed opportunity to invest in statewide infrastructure and create jobs vital to the state’s economic recovery.
We should pass a robust, balanced and strategic bonding package that focuses on higher education, transportation, housing, public safety, water and wastewater systems, and regional economic development to give the private sector the shot in the arm.
The DFL’s balanced and strategic bonding package would take advantage of record low interest rates and create thousands of construction and long-term permanent jobs throughout the state. It also includes the State Capitol – but as part of a strategic statewide effort, not a narrow stand alone bill.
It would also include $31 million for a science education center for Metropolitan State University, $27 million for a new St. Paul Saints baseball park in downtown St. Paul, and $12 million for the Children’s Museum in St. Paul.
We need these projects to put Minnesotans back to work. But instead of working together in a bipartisan fashion on a balanced and targeted bonding bill, Republicans want to go it alone, again, in an unproductive manner.
The only way we can pass a bonding bill this session is if both Republicans and Democrats work together on it. Bipartisanship is the tie that binds. DFLers have largely been shut out of this process while Republicans have pursued a political bonding approach. This is not the recipe for success.
I voted no on the Capitol renovation bonding bill; it should be part a global bonding bill that addresses all projects.
Time is running short this session, but if we truly work together we can salvage this session and pass a bonding bill that maximizes the jobs we can create that benefits the entire state of Minnesota.
Stay Informed
The Senate and House produce award-winning weekly and daily news magazines during the legislative session online and in print. To subscribe or for general information about the House (651) 296-2146, Senate (651) 296-0504, and legislative process, visit the Legislature’s website at www.leg.state.mn.us and click on “general information.”
As we get closer to the end of this session, you may find that you have questions about the issues we have yet to address – jobs, bonding, the Vikings stadium – or input on those we have. If you do, feel free to contact me and I will do my best to address your concerns.
Rep. Sheldon Johnson
217 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4201
News Items
February 24, 2012 - (Posted: 2/24/2012)
E-Update - February 17, 2012 - (Posted: 2/17/2012)
E-Update - February 9 ,2012 - (Posted: 2/9/2012)
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- 2012 SESSION UPDATE - (Posted: 2012-05-01 00:00:00)
- 2012 SESSION UPDATE - (Posted: 2012-04-26 00:00:00)
- 2012 SESSION UPDATE - (Posted: 2012-04-19 00:00:00)
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