LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Lana Theis on Tuesday offered an amendment to Democrat legislation reinstating prevailing wage in Michigan that would have required Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to resubmit a budget recommendation that accurately accounts for the increased budgetary costs associated with the pro-union policy.
“The wisdom in repealing prevailing wage 10 years ago was that Michigan taxpayers would no longer be overcharged for constructing schools, roads, and other publicly-funded buildings,” said Theis, R-Brighton. “Reinstating prevailing wage is bad policy. It will put taxpayers on the hook for much more expensive construction projects with no benefit. If Gov. Whitmer signs the bill, it is going to have a drastic, negative impact on the state budget and neither she nor my Democratic colleagues seem to have contemplated the massive shortfall. Bids are already being rewritten.”
As voted on, Theis’ amendment would have required the governor to issue an updated budget recommendation that accurately reflects the negative fiscal impact of reinstating prevailing wage as prescribed in House Bill 4007.
“My amendment simply would have required the governor to issue a revised budget recommendation reflecting the higher cost of prevailing wage,” Theis said. “Regrettably and inexplicably, Democrats rejected my commonsense and fiscally responsible proposal to the detriment of hardworking Michiganders.”
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