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Democratic Radio: "Don't Sell Out Wisconsin Workers" PDF Print E-mail
News - Media for State & Local
Written by Wisconsin Assembly Democrats   
Friday, 29 May 2015 09:58

tod-ohnstadMADISON – Rep. Tod Ohnstad (D-Kenosha) offers the Democratic Weekly Radio Address. The topic this week is the Republican effort to repeal Wisconsin's prevailing wage law, a plan that would further erode our middle class and increase the likelihood of construction projects going to out-of-state firms that bring in low-wage workers.

"Wisconsin’s middle class is already declining more than any other state, and repealing prevailing wage would be another huge hit to middle-class families and small businesses," Rep. Ohnstad said. "It’s bad enough that Republicans are selling out our public schools, universities and health care programs to support Gov. Walker’s presidential ambitions. They shouldn’t be selling out Wisconsin workers too."

The audio file of this week’s address can be found here and a video version can be viewed here.

A written transcript of the address is below:

This week Republicans announced that – despite widespread opposition – they want to ram through a bill to repeal our state’s prevailing wage law.

Prevailing wage protects Wisconsin jobs by ensuring construction projects go to local firms and local workers, rather than out-of-state firms that bring in low-wage workers. Prevailing wage also ensures we will continue to have high-quality road projects. Wisconsin’s road and bridge construction workers are some of the best and most productive in the nation, with low costs per mile and excellent training.

Wisconsin’s middle class is already declining more than any other state, and repealing prevailing wage would be another huge hit to middle-class families and small businesses.

According to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, repealing prevailing wage wouldn’t even save taxpayers money or fix the Republicans’ $2.2 billion budget hole. That’s because when less skilled workers take more time to complete projects or projects need repair sooner, costs go up.

Democrats are proud to stand on the side of the strong majority – 62 percent – of residents, and more than 400 businesses and contractors who have told us that Wisconsin’s prevailing wage system works.

It’s bad enough that Republicans are selling out our public schools, universities and health care programs to support Gov. Walker’s presidential ambitions. They shouldn’t be selling out Wisconsin workers too.

Last Updated on Friday, 29 May 2015 10:22
 
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