Feb 23 2009
Prevailing Wage Fight Continues At Statehouse
Monday brings day four in the longest attempt to keep a bill vote open in the history of the Iowa legislature. House speaker Patrick Murphy decided to keep sitting in his chair, around-the-clock over the weekend, to keep the vote open on a prevailing wage bill.
It would set a standard for the wages paid to workers who build state projects, but Murphy is failing at his mission to get one last vote to pass the bill. Sunday night, the final state representative cast his ballot, but it wasn’t enough to push the bill over the 51 required votes.
If Democrats can’t sway a “no” vote their way, the bill will be considered dead at 1:00, Monday afternoon.
Their best hope is Representative McKinley Bailey. The Hamilton County Democrat took away his support Friday, after an amendment was tacked-on to the bill.
Bailey says the sleepover tactic won’t work and his vote won’t change, “They learned two years ago that strong-arming me doesn’t work. I went to war twice and I was shot at, it doesn’t scare me.”
Republicans say Murphy’s sit-in is delaying talks on flood relief. Democrats say prevailing wage would ensure flood dollars are spent properly.
