Staff Reports
In a speech given in Philadelphia, Vice President Kamala Harris announced a new rule proposed by the Biden administration that could potentially increase wages for federal construction workers by thousands of dollars each year. This rule change, if implemented, would be the first modification to the Davis-Bacon Act since the Reagan administration. The vice president mentioned that this wage increase could benefit over 1 million construction workers.
Harris also took the opportunity to criticize the “trickle-down” economic philosophy of the Reagan years while promoting the “Bidenomics” plan. She claimed that this new approach prioritizes fair wages for all workers and aims to create an economy that is beneficial to working families. As an individual who was raised by a mother that emphasized the importance of every type of work, Harris believes that every worker deserves respect, a voice, and a fair wage.
.@VP Kamala Harris said that a new rule from the Biden administration could raise wages for construction workers on federal jobs by thousands of dollars each year.
If it goes into effect, the rule could raise wages for more than 1 million workers.https://t.co/UTkkicPuPL
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) August 9, 2023
The proposed rule change by the Department of Labor would lower the “prevailing wage” threshold for federal construction jobs from its current level of 50% to 30%. According to senior administration officials, this adjustment is the most significant update to prevailing wage standards in the last three decades. Labor unions, a key part of the Biden coalition, widely support this change. However, opponents argue that lowering the threshold would result in higher costs for federal projects due to the need for increased wages.
Conservative Opinion: This proposed rule change by the Biden administration is yet another attempt by the Democrats to interfere with the free market and impose their own agenda. While it may seem like a positive move to raise wages for construction workers, it ultimately leads to increased costs for taxpayers and hampers economic growth. The Reagan years taught us the importance of allowing businesses to thrive and create jobs through lower taxes and fewer regulations. The “trickle-down” approach has proven successful in stimulating economic growth and benefiting all Americans, not just a select few. The Biden-Harris administration’s focus on increasing government intervention only serves to hinder the true potential of our economy.
