Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[razal]

W is just full of surprises. The govt will give $50 Billion contract to
Halliburton to rebuild, bring in immigrants from Mexico, pay $1.00 per
hour for wages and make 45 Billion profit. What a genius. He does not
even wait one week after the crises to feed the rich.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/08/news/economy/katrina_wages.reut/



Bush lifts wage rules for Katrina
President signs executive order allowing contractors to pay below
prevailing
wage in affected areas.
September 8, 2005: 9:42 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush issued
an executive order Thursday allowing federal
contractors rebuilding in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina to pay below the prevailing
wage.

In a notice to Congress, Bush said the hurricane
had caused "a national emergency" that permits
him to take such action under the 1931
Davis-Bacon Act in ravaged areas of Alabama,
Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Bush's action came as the federal government moved to provide billions
of dollars
in aid, and drew rebukes from two of organized labor's biggest friends
in
Congress, Rep. George Miller of California and Sen. Edward Kennedy of
Massachusetts, both Democrats.

"The administration is using the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to cut
the wages
of people desperately trying to rebuild their lives and their
communities," Miller
said.

"President Bush should immediately realize the colossal mistake he has
made in
signing this order and rescind it and ensure that America puts its
people back to
work in the wake of Katrina at wages that will get them and their
families back on
their feet," Miller said.

"I regret the president's decision," said Kennedy.

"One of the things the American people are very concerned about is
shabby work
and that certainly is true about the families whose houses are going to
be rebuilt
and buildings that are going to be restored," Kennedy said.

The Davis-Bacon law requires federal contractors to pay workers at least
the
prevailing wages in the area where the work is conducted. It applies to
federally
funded construction projects such as highways and bridges.

Bush's executive order suspends the requirements of the Davis-Bacon law
for
designated areas hit by the storm.

---

Will Katrina bring back high inflation? Click here


The Hot List


5 risks of home-equity loans
America's richest and poorest places
Most dangerous jobs


More Economy


Import prices climb on petroleum
Fed's Yellen: 'Little scope' for
Katrina
Gasoline prices fall further