State lawmakers can now vote to repeal Michigan’s prevailing wage law. Prevailing wage requires the state pay union-scale wages on its contracts. Capital corresnpondent Cheyna Roth reports the Board of State Canvassers certified a ballot initiative Friday. It gives the Legislature a chance to pass the measure instead of letting the voters decide.
Supporters of prevailing wage say it helps people who work in the skilled trades. But opponents of the law have been trying to get rid of it for years. They say it inflates the price of government projects.
Jeff Wiggins is president of Protecting Michigan Taxpayers. That’s the group that put together the proposal.
“This law needs to go and we finally have an opportunity to do that now.” Said Wiggins.
Lawmakers have introduced bills to repeal prevailing wage in the past. But Governor Rick Snyder has wanted to keep the law and likely would have vetoed these bills. If the Legislature passes the initiative, it becomes law without requiring Snyder’s signature.