"In order to expedite reconstruction", Yeehaw W. Bush has decided the best way to help the people suffering in the Hurricane regions is to waive a law made back in the Great Depression that guaranteed government contractors pay at wages at least relative to wage of workers in the region.
In English, the people who lost everything in Katrina who are now looking for any work will now be exploited as they rebuild their communities below cost.
Outrageous.
p.s. - Coincidence? Guess which company is sending 3,000 workers to Hurricane areas?
You guessed it.
(emphasis mine)
http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/08/news/economy/katrina_wages.reut/
Bush lifts wage rules for Katrina
President signs executive order allowing contractors to pay below prevailing wage in affected areas.
September 9, 2005: 11:43 AM EDT
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush issued an executive order Thursday allowing federal contractors rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to pay below the prevailing wage.
In a notice to Congress, Bush said the hurricane had caused "a national emergency" that permits him to take such action under the 1931 Davis-Bacon Act in ravaged areas of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.
The Davis-Bacon law requires federal contractors to pay workers at least the prevailing wages in the area where the work is conducted. It applies to federally funded construction projects such as highways and bridges.
Bush's executive order suspends the requirements of the Davis-Bacon law for designated areas hit by the storm.
Bush's action came as the federal government moved to provide billions of dollars in aid, and drew rebukes from two of organized labor's biggest friends in Congress, Rep. George Miller of California and Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, both Democrats.
"The administration is using the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to cut the wages of people desperately trying to rebuild their lives and their communities," Miller said.
"President Bush should immediately realize the colossal mistake he has made in signing this order and rescind it and ensure that America puts its people back to work in the wake of Katrina at wages that will get them and their families back on their feet," Miller said.
"I regret the president's decision," said Kennedy.
"One of the things the American people are very concerned about is shabby work and that certainly is true about the families whose houses are going to be rebuilt and buildings that are going to be restored," Kennedy said.
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Bush lowers minimum contract wage for Hurricane reconstruction |
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Hiro Pendragon
bye bye f0rums!
Join date: 22 Jan 2004
Posts: 5,905
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09-10-2005 06:58
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Hiro Pendragon
------------------ http://www.involve3d.com - Involve - Metaverse / Emerging Media Studio Visit my SL blog: http://secondtense.blogspot.com |
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Teeny Leviathan
Never started World War 3
Join date: 20 May 2003
Posts: 2,716
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09-10-2005 07:00
Un freakin' believable! Just when you think this Administration couldn't go any lower.
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They evolved. They rebelled. There are many copies. And they have a plan. |
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Lecktor Hannibal
YOUR MOM
Join date: 1 Jul 2004
Posts: 6,734
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09-10-2005 07:09
This is fucking stupid. gah
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Ardith Mifflin
Mecha Fiend
Join date: 5 Jun 2004
Posts: 1,416
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09-10-2005 07:27
What the hell? Why wasn't the act suspended immediately following 9/11?
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Chosen Few
Alpha Channel Slave
Join date: 16 Jan 2004
Posts: 7,496
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09-10-2005 07:39
So executive orders can suspend laws now? There's only one word for that, DICATATORSHIP! And he didn't even have to use the T word this time. Congratulations, ladies & gentlemen, America has its first king in 229 years. Fitting I suppose, since the last one was also named George.
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Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested. |
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Hiro Pendragon
bye bye f0rums!
Join date: 22 Jan 2004
Posts: 5,905
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09-10-2005 07:44
What the hell? Why wasn't the act suspended immediately following 9/11? Probably because New York City unions wouldn't put up with that crap.  _____________________
Hiro Pendragon
------------------ http://www.involve3d.com - Involve - Metaverse / Emerging Media Studio Visit my SL blog: http://secondtense.blogspot.com |
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Nimue Galatea
я говорю по русски ;)
Join date: 24 May 2004
Posts: 517
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09-10-2005 08:11
What a sick man
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nimuegalatea.blogspot.com
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Introvert Petunia
over 2 billion posts
Join date: 11 Sep 2004
Posts: 2,065
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09-10-2005 08:42
"I regret the president's decision," said Kennedy. |
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Introvert Petunia
over 2 billion posts
Join date: 11 Sep 2004
Posts: 2,065
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09-10-2005 08:48
From Haliburton Press Release:
...Halliburton's priority is the safety and well-being of its employees who currently are displaced by Hurricane Katrina... I think they just invented a new meaning for "mendacious weasels". |
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Judah Jimador
Registered User
Join date: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 230
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09-10-2005 09:11
So we're doing kind of a semi-WPA thing?
I think that's a commendable idea. However, glancing through the announcements and press releases, I didn't see the part where this special class of workers was going to be provided with three nutritious meals per day, guaranteed rest periods, reasonable access to clinical care, and clean, hygienic temporary housing for the length of their employment. Nor did I see an emergency freeze placed on their credit bureau status and all revolving debts they may hold. And I missed the bit about the exemption of their Crisis-Level Income from Federal taxes. Also lacking was the announcement of the schedule of "company store" goods and services, at publicly fixed prices, which Halliburton, Brown & Root, and these other philanthropic corporations will allot their new workers weekly during their engagement. No doubt these were merely oversights, and official reassurances will be forthcoming ere the weekend is out. -- jj |
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Euterpe Roo
The millionth monkey
Join date: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 1,395
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09-10-2005 09:27
Do you think Georgie might have slipped? Did he mean 'workers' or 'guest workers' (who are already often paid significantly less than living wage) or both? My guess is both.
There has been no change in the federally mandated minimum wage since September 1, 1997. Allowing the Department of Labor to leave it unchanged in this time of increasing inflation is tantamount to allowing the law to lapse, to become meaningless. Of course, this is not enough for the Bush 'Sensitivity First' Administration--overt action to dismantle one of the last protections for workers is absolutely in keeping with Bush's overt attempts to debase working people. How much does a loaf of bread cost, Mr. Bush? _____________________
"Of course, you'd also have to mention . . . furries, Sith Lords, cyberpunks, glowing balls of gaseous neon fumes, and walking foodstuffs" --Cory Edo
“One man developed a romantic attachment to a tractor, even giving it a name and writing poetry in its honor." MSN "  next week: the .5m torus of "I ate a yummy sandwich and I'm sleepy now" " Desmond Shang |
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Keknehv Psaltery
Hacker
Join date: 11 Apr 2005
Posts: 1,185
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09-10-2005 09:27
There's only one word for that, DICATATORSHIP! I cracked up at that... But seriously, how else would a government be able to support a rebuilding process? Do you want these people making $30 an hour? At this stage, they need shelter more than money anyways. So it's bad for the government to spend money, bad for them not to, bad for them to lower taxes, bad for them to raise taxes... _____________________
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Hiro Pendragon
bye bye f0rums!
Join date: 22 Jan 2004
Posts: 5,905
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09-10-2005 09:29
So we're doing kind of a semi-WPA thing? I think that's a commendable idea. However, glancing through the announcements and press releases, I didn't see the part where this special class of workers was going to be provided with three nutritious meals per day, guaranteed rest periods, reasonable access to clinical care, and clean, hygienic temporary housing for the length of their employment. Yes, that surely will compensate for the loss of their family members, homes, and possessions. =( _____________________
Hiro Pendragon
------------------ http://www.involve3d.com - Involve - Metaverse / Emerging Media Studio Visit my SL blog: http://secondtense.blogspot.com |
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Euterpe Roo
The millionth monkey
Join date: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 1,395
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09-10-2005 09:31
So we're doing kind of a semi-WPA thing? I think that's a commendable idea. However, glancing through the announcements and press releases, I didn't see the part where this special class of workers was going to be provided with three nutritious meals per day, guaranteed rest periods, reasonable access to clinical care, and clean, hygienic temporary housing for the length of their employment. Nor did I see an emergency freeze placed on their credit bureau status and all revolving debts they may hold. And I missed the bit about the exemption of their Crisis-Level Income from Federal taxes. Also lacking was the announcement of the schedule of "company store" goods and services, at publicly fixed prices, which Halliburton, Brown & Root, and these other philanthropic corporations will allot their new workers weekly during their engagement. No doubt these were merely oversights, and official reassurances will be forthcoming ere the weekend is out. -- jj Judah, you have outlined some amazingly apropos insights here. In South Carolina, we called this a 'Mill Town.' It is one of the reasons that labor unions are not present in the deep South. _____________________
"Of course, you'd also have to mention . . . furries, Sith Lords, cyberpunks, glowing balls of gaseous neon fumes, and walking foodstuffs" --Cory Edo
“One man developed a romantic attachment to a tractor, even giving it a name and writing poetry in its honor." MSN " next week: the .5m torus of "I ate a yummy sandwich and I'm sleepy now"" Desmond Shang |
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Zuzu Fassbinder
Little Miss No Tomorrow
Join date: 17 Sep 2004
Posts: 2,048
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09-10-2005 10:14
Governor Tarkin: The US Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that the President has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.
General Tagge: But that's impossible. How will the President maintain control without the bureaucracy? Governor Tarkin: The regional governors now have direct control over their territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of terrorists. _____________________
I don't want no commies in my car. No Christians either. |
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Introvert Petunia
over 2 billion posts
Join date: 11 Sep 2004
Posts: 2,065
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wage disparity?
09-10-2005 10:14
Excerpted from CorpWatch:
Halliburton has already collected over $10 billion in return for doing just about every logistical support activity that the military needs in Iraq -- from digging toilets and cutting soldier's hair to preparing food and delivering mail. Altogether, an estimated 61 of their employees have been killed. This is out of a workforce that numbers approximately 24,000, three-quarters of whom are not from Iraq. (emphasis mine). Yeah, the story is a little old and it is not the New York Times, but, interesting ummm... priorities.Thousands of these employees are poor Americans from small towns who are lured by the promise of making up to $100,000 a year, tax-free. The company hires them through a Cayman Island-based subsidiary named Service Employees International, then flies them to Houston and Kuwait for training. |
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Ardith Mifflin
Mecha Fiend
Join date: 5 Jun 2004
Posts: 1,416
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09-10-2005 10:17
Excerpted from CorpWatch: Halliburton has already collected over $10 billion in return for doing just about every logistical support activity that the military needs in Iraq -- from digging toilets and cutting soldier's hair to preparing food and delivering mail. Altogether, an estimated 61 of their employees have been killed. This is out of a workforce that numbers approximately 24,000, three-quarters of whom are not from Iraq. (emphasis mine). Yeah, the story is a little old and it is not the New York Times, but, interesting ummm... priorities.Thousands of these employees are poor Americans from small towns who are lured by the promise of making up to $100,000 a year, tax-free. The company hires them through a Cayman Island-based subsidiary named Service Employees International, then flies them to Houston and Kuwait for training. $100,000 tax-free? *does the math* 0.25% chance of dying... where do I sign up? I can learn how to drive a stick if it means earning that kind of fat loot... |
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Taco Rubio
also quite creepy
Join date: 15 Feb 2004
Posts: 3,349
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09-12-2005 08:48
"I want to stand up on my hind legs and not just admit but frankly holler right out that we've got to change our system a lot, maybe even change the whole Constitution (but change it legally, and not by violence) to bring it up from the horseback-and-corduroy-road epoch to the automobile-and-cement-road period of today. The Executive has got to have a freer hand and be able to move quick in an emergency, and not be tied down by a lot of dumb shyster-lawyer congressmen taking months to shoot off their mouths in debates."
Zero Hour -Berzelius Windrip |
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Artillo Fredericks
Friendly Orange Demon
Join date: 1 Jun 2004
Posts: 1,327
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09-12-2005 09:23
:: tries to surpress the sick feeling building once again in his stomach every time he reads about something else the goons in charge pull over on the people who pay their salaries ::
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"I, for one, am thouroughly entertained by the mass freakout." - Nephilaine Protagonist
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Dominique Pollack
Simply Moi
Join date: 20 Sep 2004
Posts: 9
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09-13-2005 17:16
Fuck Bush!! :d
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KILLING FOR PEACE MAKES AS MUCH SENSE AS FUCKING FOR ABSTINENCE!
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Roxie Marten
Crumedgeon
Join date: 18 Feb 2004
Posts: 291
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09-13-2005 18:07
"In order to expedite reconstruction", Yeehaw W. Bush has decided the best way to help the people suffering in the Hurricane regions is to waive a law made back in the Great Depression that guaranteed government contractors pay at wages at least relative to wage of workers in the region. In English, the people who lost everything in Katrina who are now looking for any work will now be exploited as they rebuild their communities below cost. . What they really need to do is give everyone who gets a welfare check in New Oreleans a shovel and a broom. You want your check. You will clean up the mess. If that isn't enough people. bus in welfare people from around the country. We have a millions of able bodied people on the dole. Put them to work. Bush is dammed if he does and dammed if he dosn't. So cry me a river you don't like it |
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Garoad Kuroda
Prophet of Muppetry
Join date: 5 Sep 2003
Posts: 2,989
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09-13-2005 20:20
Bush is dammed if he does and dammed if he dosn't. So cry me a river you don't like it Pretty much. Although in this case I'm not sure I get how this speeds anything up, IF that is indeed the reasoning. You just never know with all the spinning going on. I'm dizzy. _____________________
BTW
WTF is C3PO supposed to be USEFUL for anyway, besides whining? Stupid piece of scrap metal would be more useful recycled as a toaster. But even that would suck, because who would want to listen to a whining wussy toaster? Is he gold plated? If that's the case he should just be melted down into gold ingots. Help the economy some, and stop being so damn useless you stupid bucket of bolts! R2 is 1,000 times more useful than your tin man ass, and he's shaped like a salt and pepper shaker FFS! |
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Hiro Pendragon
bye bye f0rums!
Join date: 22 Jan 2004
Posts: 5,905
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09-13-2005 20:48
Bush is dammed if he does and dammed if he dosn't. So cry me a river you don't like it I agree. It's clear that there's very little Bush can do to prevent him from being sent to a fiery afterlife. Thanks for stating it so clearly, albeit sans-spellcheck.  _____________________
Hiro Pendragon
------------------ http://www.involve3d.com - Involve - Metaverse / Emerging Media Studio Visit my SL blog: http://secondtense.blogspot.com |
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Arcadia Codesmith
Not a guest
Join date: 8 Dec 2004
Posts: 766
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09-14-2005 10:54
And now, this.
Last week, Bush issued an executive order lifting the Davis-Bacon rules mandating that construction workers on federal contracts be paid the average wage in a region. The White House argued the regulations were slowing reconstruction and raising federal costs. Now Labor Department and White House officials are examining a similar move for service workers covered by the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act, which extended prevailing wage rules to service workers. Administration officials are concerned that workers on demolition and debris-removal jobs could protest that even with construction wage supports lifted, they should be paid prevailing wages because their work is more service-related than construction-related. Gutting the minimum wage has always been a cherished goal of the Heritage Foundation and other extremist groups. This isn't quite the same thing, and be wary of slippery-slope arguments, but it's very suggestive that this administration sees wage protections as an obstacle to rebuilding rather than a spur to the local economy. _____________________
"I like you better when you start pretending to be the person you want to be" - David Thomas
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Arcadia Codesmith
Not a guest
Join date: 8 Dec 2004
Posts: 766
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09-14-2005 10:58
What they really need to do is give everyone who gets a welfare check in New Oreleans a shovel and a broom. You want your check. You will clean up the mess. We've arrived at a new pardigm for toxic waste removal! And as a special bonus, the resulting disease and poisoning will cut big swaths of people off the welfare rolls! Angling for a cabinet post? _____________________
"I like you better when you start pretending to be the person you want to be" - David Thomas
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