Mo. House lawmakers move to exempt schools from "prevailing wage" requirement
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Mo. House lawmakers move to exempt schools from "prevailing wage" requirement

Date: February 28, 2013
By: Alexander Mallin
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 34

Intro: 
Construction and maintenance workers across Missouri could see their wages cut under a measure moving through the State Capitol.
RunTime:  0:37
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The state House has given its approval to a bill that would exempt schools from "prevailing wage" laws. Those laws mandate that construction workers be paid a certain rate for government projects.

But Democratic Representative Mike Colona of St. Louis says that allowing schools to pay less would result in across-the-board pay cuts for those Missouri middle-class workers.

Actuality:  COLONA.WAV
Run Time:  00:05
Description: "Doing away with the prevailing wage puts us on a state path to a race to the bottom."
 
Republicans say the change would allow schools to hire more workers and help their local economies.
 
The bill now heads to the Senate.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro: 
Republican House members have sent to the Senate legislation that could cut the wages of construction and maintenance workers across Missouri.
RunTime:  0:38
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The bill would exempt schools from "prevailing wage" laws, which mandate that construction workers be paid a certain rate for government projects.

Democratic Representative Mike Colona of St. Louis says that middle-class construction workers can't afford to have their wages lowered.

Actuality:  COLONA2.WAV
Run Time:  00:11
Description: "If this bill becomes law, be prepared, to look constituents in the eye and say "I cut your pay." Or, "I legislated you out of a job.""

Republicans say the change would allow schools to start more projects and hire more workers to help their local economies.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.