REP. FREY PROPOSES MORATORIUM ON PREVAILING WAGE LAWS TO SAVE TAXPAYERS

RIDGEFIELD- State Representative John Frey, R-111th District has introduced a bill this session to have a moratorium on prevailing wage laws for municipal projects more than ten million dollars until June 30, 2011. The bill has been referred to the General Assembly’s Labor and Public Employees Committee.

Rep. Frey’s proposal is to put moratorium on prevailing wage laws for municipal projects more than ten million dollars until June 30, 2011.

The state’s prevailing wage law requires contractors working on large public works construction projects to pay their laborers and mechanics working on the projects at least the same wages as are customarily paid for similar work in the town or city where the projects are carried on. Contractors must also make the customary contribution to any employee welfare fund that covers employees, or if there is none, pay the contributions directly to the employees.

“What a better time for this bill then now, the Federal Stimulus package has just been signed by the President and will be providing Washington, D.C., dollars to Connecticut for “Shovel Ready” projects in every town, including Ridgefield. This is one way to cut down on the cost of these construction projects during this unprecedented economic climate,” Rep. Frey said.

“I implore the Labor and Public Employees Committee to be fiscally smart with the Federal Stimulus money, pass this bill. The state just cannot afford “Business as Usual”. We need to think out of the box and save every last taxpayer dollar,” said Frey.

Rep. Frey, House Republican Whip, serves the 111th Assembly District of Ridgefield in the state House of Representatives.