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Show Legislature overrides veto on Prevailing Wage bill By Roger Scowcroft Last week the Utah House of Representatives and Senate overrode Gov. Scott M. Matheson's veto of House Bill No. 1, Repeal of Prevailing Wage Rates. The bill, sponsored by Rep. C. McClain Haddow, R-Salt Lake, now automatically becomes law 60 days after adjournment, mid-May this year. H.B. 1 repeals provisions of the 1953 Utah Code that required contractors engaged in state public works projects to pay their employees a minimum wage as determined by the Utah Industrial In-dustrial Commission. Under the new law, contractors who bid on state and local work projects are no longer required to pay workers union wage rates. Projects involving federal funds, however, are still subject to federal guidelines that require prevailing wage rates. H.B 1 had already been passed by both the House and Senate by a simple majority. Gov. Matheson vetoed the bill, saying "I am convinved that repeal of this law is not in the best interests in-terests of working people in the trades whose skills are essential for a vigorous construction industry. ..The vitality of that industry and the people who work in it must be protected if we are to ensure a diverse as well as dynamic economy in Utah." Veto override requires a two-thirds vote of the legislature, and the following day the House overrode the governor's veto by a vote of 50 to 24 (one absent), split sharply along party lines, and transmitted the bill to the Senate for similar consideration. Override had been expected in the House, but there was some question whether the Senate where the bill had never previously been supported by a two-thirds vote would follow suit. Proponents of the override were silent. Four Democratic senators argued against it. Senate Minority Leader Wilford Rex Black, Jr., D-Salt Lake, said "it is truly unfortunate that this legislature is making this kind of attack on the working people of Utah. It would be a . dark day that we would vote to downgrade wages at the same time we are increasing interest rates in this state." Sen. Arthur L. Kimball, D-Salt Lake, described supporters of H.B. 1 and the override as "a very small minority who do not represent the interests of the people of this state." Sen. Karl G. Swan, D-Salt Lake-Tooele, added, "We are not merely eleminating a cost of living increase, we are reducing wages below what they were last year." A vote was called, and the override sustained by 21 to 7 (one absent). Voting against the measure were all Senate Democrats, and one Republican: Sens. Barton, Bennett, Black, Bunnell, Farley, Kimball and Swan. Sen. William T. Barton, R-Salt Lake, the lone Republican voting against the override, explained that he had planned to support the measure but had been "overwhelmed" by his West Valley constituents to oppose it. Sens. Kay S. Cornaby, R-Salt Lake, and Ronald T. Halverson, R-Weber, had previously opposed H.B. 1. Had they not changed their votes, the override attempt would have failed. Sen. Halverson explained that the parties involved had not reached "some sort of compromise," and "maybe now they will." |
