Getting Ready to Work in Missouri
This week, the General Laws Committee heard bills that will help bring jobs to the Show-Me State.
Senate Bill 20, a bill I sponsored, would save Missouri taxpayers money by eliminating prevailing wage laws in the state, one of the main concerns of rural community leaders in Missouri. Under current laws, rural schools, fire departments, and others are required to pay the same prevailing wage standards as Kansas City and St. Louis.
Missouri is a very diverse state, and building costs in Kansas City and St. Louis are not the same as the less populated rural areas. I feel this is one of the most important labor reforms we can pass. This bill would have a tremendous impact on our local communities and the local families who want to get back to work.
Senate Bill 182, sponsored by Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, would end the discriminatory and unfair practices of project labor agreements. Taxpayers deserve the best product for the best possible cost. Project labor agreements drive up the cost of construction by effectively excluding nonunion contractors and their skilled employees from building projects paid for by their own community’s tax dollars. These projects are also funded using taxpayer dollars, but many times project labor agreements include unreasonable terms and conditions in order to limit fair bidding competition. Ultimately, project labor agreements hurt workers because they end up paying more dues and fees rather than putting that money into their own pockets.
Always feel free to contact me throughout the year with any comments, questions, or issues by calling my office at (573) 751-5713 or by visiting my website at www.senate.mo.gov/brown.
Thank you for reading this and for your participation in state government.