Tag: Midwest Economic Policy Institute

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Illinois House Testimonies on the Consequences of Repealing Prevailing Wage

Frank Manzo IV

On Tuesday, February 27, the Labor and Commerce Committee in the Illinois House held a hearing titled “Impacts of Repealing the Prevailing Wage.” Frank Manzo IV, MPP, Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI); Robert Bruno, Ph.D., Director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois; and Kevin Duncan, Ph.D., Professor of Economics at Colorado State University-Pueblo submitted testimonies.

The following article provides condensed versions of those testimonies.

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Prevailing Wage Repeal Would Hurt Kentucky’s Economy

Frank Manzo IV

Repealing Kentucky’s prevailing wage law would weaken the state’s economy, according to a new study.

Eliminating prevailing wage would cause a pay cut for middle-class workers, qualify more workers for public assistance, slash apprenticeship training, and result in more of Kentucky’s tax dollars going to out-of-state or foreign contractors. Veterans, who populate construction trades at a higher rate than non-veterans, would be particularly impacted if Kentucky were to repeal its prevailing wage standards.

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New Study: Michigan Prevailing Wage Repeal Will Kill Jobs and Hamper Economy

Frank Manzo IV

Frank Manzo IV is the Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI). Visit ILEPI at www.illinoisepi.org or follow ILEPI on Twitter @illinoisEPI. Lansing – Just completed research by the Midwest Economic Policy Institute, Colorado State University Economist Kevin Duncan … Continue reading New Study: Michigan Prevailing Wage Repeal Will Kill Jobs and Hamper Economy

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Road Construction Workers in the Midwest are VERY Productive

Frank Manzo IV

Frank Manzo IV is the Policy Director of the Midwest Economic Policy Institute (MEPI). Visit MEPI online follow the affiliated Illinois Economic Policy Institute on Twitter @illinoisEPI. Construction workers who specialize in road and bridge infrastructure projects are productive, high-skilled, and well-paid in the Midwest, … Continue reading Road Construction Workers in the Midwest are VERY Productive

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Prevailing Wage Encourages Self-Sufficient Workers

Frank Manzo IV

Frank Manzo IV is the Policy Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI). Visit ILEPI at www.illinoisepi.org or follow ILEPI on Twitter @illinoisEPI. Taxpayers are subsidizing the low-wage, low-skill, low-quality system in states without a prevailing wage law, according to a report released jointly today by the Midwest Economic Policy Institute and Building Strong Communities. The Policy Brief, Self-Sufficient Construction Workers: Why Prevailing Wage Laws are the Best Deal for Taxpayers [PDF], finds that prevailing wage laws (PWLs) build local middle-class jobs and drive economic development through increased consumer demand. By paying a living wage and supporting apprenticeship training programs, PWLs encourage … Continue reading Prevailing Wage Encourages Self-Sufficient Workers

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The CCW is Common Sense Construction

Frank Manzo IV

Today, the Midwest Economic Policy Institute released Common Sense Construction: The Economic Impacts of  Indiana’s Common Construction Wage with the University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations and Smart Cities Prevail. The report finds that Indiana’s Common Construction Wage (CCW) promotes positive labor market outcomes for both construction workers and contractors. Full report [pdf] One-page summary [pdf] Ten facts about the Indiana CCW: 1. The Common Construction Wage keeps Hoosier jobs local. (For more, see pages 5 and 11-13) 2. The Common Construction Wage does not increase total construction costs for public projects. (Pg. 4) 3. The Common Construction Wage promotes an upwardly-mobile, high-road economy for working families. (Pg. … Continue reading The CCW is Common Sense Construction