Piscopo Op-Ed: Prevailing Wages and Taxpayer Dollars

This legislative session promises to be one of much excitement and rigorous debate over many issues.  As your State Representative, I continue to fight hard and to represent the voice of the people from our 76th District in Hartford.

One of the issues I’ve championed since joining the General Assembly in 1988, and that I continue to fight very passionately for today, is an increase in the prevailing wage limit.

The reason this is an important issue is because YOU, the taxpayers, are the ones who fund public works projects!  It is time we address this issue and change the legislation.

Under the Connecticut General Statues, prevailing wage legislation applies to each contract for the construction, remodeling, refinishing, refurbishing, rehabilitation, alteration or repair of any public works project by the State or its agents, or by any political subdivision of the State.

Prevailing wage is an inflated, arbitrary cost for construction or remodeling efforts to any public building, such as schools, and town halls.  Under this law, the cost of construction increases by nearly 1/3 of what the original estimated cost would be.  As an example, a project estimated to cost taxpayers one million dollars will end up costing $1.3 million dollars because of prevailing wages.

I have introduced a series of bills concerning a change in the legislation of current prevailing wage laws.  It has been more than 15 years since we’ve taken a prudent increase in prevailing wage limits.

The people of Connecticut have endured a record tax hike under the Governor’s plan during the last legislative term.  It’s time to give our taxpayers a break!  The legislation I’ve proposed will decrease the cost to taxpayers while continuing the important school renovation projects and improvements to infrastructure that our towns need!

It will also support job and economic growth for our local businesses by affording smaller, hometown construction crews the opportunity to compete in the public bid process.  There are quality construction companies with highly skilled workers right here in our district, which deserve the same opportunity to bid for state contracts.  My proposed bills will support equal competition in the marketplace and give our local businesses a chance to compete, to grow, and to succeed!

I encourage you to stay connected and stay informed!

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns on this or any issue, I would really like to hear from you!

Please call my office at 1-800-842-1423 or visit my website www.cthousegop.com.