LANSING — Today, the House of Representatives voted on a proposal to repeal the state’s prevailing wage law, which ensured that workers on state projects were paid a fair wage. The proposal passed by a vote of 56-53. In response, state Rep. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) issued the following statement:
“Repealing prevailing wage hurts our state in more ways than one. Those who enter the construction and trades business deserve fair pay for the work they do — pay that keeps talent in Michigan and prevents undercutting by out of state businesses. The middle class was built on concepts of hard work and fair pay, and it is terrible to think Michigan might take another step towards destroying it. Beyond this, we’ve seen in other states that have repealed prevailing wage that the state ends up losing money. Low-quality infrastructure projects paid for with cheap labor can never match the work done by the competent and talented tradespeople of our state. Repealing prevailing wage is wrong for Michigan families, bad for Michigan competitiveness, and counter to the ideals Michigan was built on. That’s why I voted against it.”