The Michigan Supreme Court won’t review issues against a ballot initiative to end prevailing wage, so the measure must move forward. And lawmakers could vote on the measure as soon as next week.
Prevailing wage requires union-level wages be paid on state funded construction projects.
The Board of State Canvassers originally deadlocked on whether to approve the petition. There was a question about whether some signatures were valid. Now the board will meet on Friday to reconsider. Once it’s certified, the measure goes to the Legislature.
Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) said the Senate is ready to pass the measure.
“It really is time for people that pay for public buildings and school buildings and things like that to get their best price on it,” he said.
Meekhof said the votes are there in the House as well. And if that’s the case, Speaker of the House Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) said he’ll put it up for a vote.
“I’m glad to see that they’re finally ganna get it to us so we can get this done and save taxpayers some money,” said Leonard.
While most Republicans are on board with getting rid of prevailing wage, Democrats are staunchly against it. Opponents say it would bring in out of state contractors who don’t want to pay a fair wage.
“So at the end of the day you have to decide whether you’re going to stand with Michigan workers and stand with Michigan residents or you’re going to stand with shady out of state contractors that are trying to bilk the system,” said Senator Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing).
