MADISON, Wis (WSAU-Wheeler News) Two state Republicans want to reduce the number of road-building projects that are subject to federal minimum wage and environmental requirements. Senator Duey Strobel and Representative Robert Brooks, both of Saukville, are proposing a bill that lets officials allocate federal highway funds to some projects and not others. The state’s total amount of federal funds would stay the same. But by assigning them to fewer projects, state-and-local governments could save money by not having to do as much environmental work.
Also they would not pay the prevailing federal wage to as many road-builders.
Strobel tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he wants to cut costs as much as possible before considering a proposed gas tax hike.
Pat Goss of the Transportation Builders Association opposes the new bill, saying the federal prevailing wage increases the quality of the work. Dan Fedderly of the Wisconsin County Highway Association favors the change, saying it would let local governments put more of their funds into the actual concrete.
The state’s prevailing wage law for local projects was dropped this summer in the new state budget.