Comments on: Dems Spike Prevailing Wage Reform

By: echelonLady

echelonLady — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:11:13 +0000

I do the prevailing wage paperwork for a non-union sheet metal contractor outside Sacramento. Our workers are very skilled, and get paid a non-prevailiing wage between $25 – $30/hr, which is very good. Prevailing wage rate for our area, including fringes, is about $63/hr. THAT’s DOUBLE. The laws definitely need reform, prevailing wage definitely increase the cost of construction projects that you and I pay for, and are absolutely poised to benefit the unions. I am all for people being paid an honest wage for an honest day’s work, but paying somebody over $60 an hour is not doing our economy any favors. Much of public sector alike, are not moving forward with projects because they are over budget. What is the unemployment rate for construction industry right now? 30% or so? We need some balance, immediately, to get construction moving again and get people back to work. Even at $60/hr, I guy may only be working a few weeks or months a year. I know I’d rather be working full-time at a lower rate than making more and barely working.

By: Rebuttal to Foolish Comments

Rebuttal to Foolish Comments — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:35:22 +0000

For Working Stiff – I know you’re stiff and tired after long days of manual labor at the construction site, but someday after work, take a look at the Industrial Relations Dept. website to see that prevailing wages for many trades are statewide or are for all of Northern California and all of Southern California. Did you know that before you posted? And why are you so angry about FOX News and talk radio? Are you afraid of ideas that are different than yours? Are you one of those Fair Doctrine types who don’t like how true working stiffs are listening to Rush Limbaugh as they do their jobs every day?

For Junior – are you saying that any private job in California not done under prevailing wage is teeming with workers from Alabama? Where is your proof? And why did you pick Alabama? Are you fearful of people from the South? Or is Alabama some sort of code word with meaning understood among racist liberals?

By: Capitalist Pig

Capitalist Pig — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:05:47 +0000

The whole argument that wage controls(and/or price controls of any kind) help the middle class is bunk. The “cost of doing business” is simply passed on to the end consumer which is you and me, resulting in higher costs, less free spending money and on and on. As a result, the whole ends up subsidizing the few. Worse, many projects simply aren’t undertaken and the whole is further short changed through lack of economic activity that would have otherwise taken place.

By: Barb

Barb — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:44:08 +0000

Im n full agreement with Mr. Seiler, split the state in two, three, or four! The state is in disaster mode and unsustainable

For those leaving, may you find happiness and more freedom for which is your God given right! But please, stay in touch and help us fight on!

By: Beelzebub

Beelzebub — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:59:42 +0000

“I think that ratio has already been reached long ago, Beelzebub, and I don’t think the big changes you speak of are going to happen – I fear that the third-world environment you mentioned with the attendant loss of sovereignty is already entrenched”

No, there are still enough taxpayers in Cali to carry the leeches – whether we’re talking about the $100,000 plus gov pension swine, the illegal invaders (who cost us $20+ billion each year), the Octo mom types who flock here to drop their litters on the taxpayer dime, the familes of perpetual welfare recipients who are not required by law to work for their money like in most other states (CA has about 12% of the nation’s population and 33% of the nation’s welfare recipients (gee, I wonder why???). When enough producers flee CA the math won’t work anymore, offrockfield. It will result in a CA bond market dislocation and force the overlords to balance the system with massive cuts – or CA will simply secede to Mexico.

By: HombreLibre

HombreLibre — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:53:01 +0000

Sacramento Central Planning (a.k.a. the Retard Chamber) wants to keep Big Labor lapping up the gravy at the expense of the dwindling, fleeing Cali taxpayer.

Eventually, there will not be enough tax money for the state coffers due to there being more takers (public doles) than givers (taxpayers). Then what? Taxing people for leaving the state? Don’t laugh…

By: junior

junior — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:04:26 +0000

“(Prevailing Wage) is designed to prevent non-union contractors from underbidding union contractors.”

Actually not, PW is designed to assure a level playing field. Otherwise the work would be done by truckloads of underpaid workers from Alabama.

By: OffRockfield

OffRockfield — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:47:24 +0000

Assemblyman Mike Morell is correct…we are leaving because we don’t want to pick up the tab for the freeloaders….

By: OffRockfield

OffRockfield — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:45:49 +0000

I am in the same boat as Bobnormal, except my job opportunity happened last November.
I shall miss my views of the Conejo Valley and my residence for the last 18 years, Oak Park.
I think that ratio has already been reached long ago, Beelzebub, and I don’t think the big changes you speak of are going to happen – I fear that the third-world environment you mentioned with the attendant loss of sovereignty is already entrenched.
What a pity, because I’ve loved California all my life, but don’t see a good future that’s worth the risk of passing up the opportunities that are available here where the winters are a bit colder…
Sad….

By: working stiff

working stiff — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:10:49 +0000

do people check facts before they open their mouths or is the oxycontin flowing out of fox news and right wing radio simply inducing a know nothing stupor? prevailing wages are set by county & region and coastal rates are indeed different than inland. its no wonder why right wingers have to rely on their super-minority veto to thwart any progress in this state rather than articulating a political position grounded in reality. sheesh.