House Journal: Page 937: Friday, March 22, 2002
I am unable to approve Senate File 2048. This bill would deny public entities that
receive funding from the Vision Iowa program the same tool private entities use
regularly to ensure quality work and timely completion on a project. Denying this tool
may result in taxpayers paying more for a project due to poor workmanship, incurring
cost overruns and repairs following the completion of a project. Poor workmanship can
also increase the likelihood of accidents and expose the public to additional liability.
Public entities should have the ability to use project labor agreements as a tool if
officials deem it to be in the citizens' best interest.
Furthermore, local governments are granted home rule power and authority under
the Iowa Constitution to determine local affairs. Senate File 2048 restricts local
governments' ability to enter into agreements even if such involvement benefits the
public's interests. If project labor agreements were to be banned, public entities would
need a legal framework that ensures minimum qualifications for workers guaranteeing
the quality and timeliness of work performed on publicly funded projects.
Ensuring quality and timeliness is a function of the experience and training of
workers involved. Experience and training are reflected in the wages paid to workers.
I acknowledged early on in the debate that a level playing field must exist for bidding,
and I worked to develop a framework with lawmakers that would provide for
competitive bids while maintaining quality and timeliness of work. My plan would
replace the current project labor agreement structure with a prevailing wage and
minimum qualifications for workers on publicly funded projects. With such a plan,
quality, timeliness, competitive bidding, and wage concerns are all addressed.
Unfortunately, the Legislature declined to address these concerns.
Iowa needs a system that focuses on the lowest qualified competitive bid to ensure
that work is done properly, on-time, without increased maintenance and repair
expenses, and without increased exposure to liability. Senate File 2048 does not
accomplish this goal and, in fact, restricts it in some instances.
For the above reasons, I hereby respectfully disapprove Senate File 2048. Public
entities will still have the ability to decide whether to use project labor agreements as a
tool or not, depending on what is in the best public interest.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Vilsack
Govenor
HOUSE STUDY BILL SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT
House Study Bill 712
Commerce and Regulation: Hansen, Chair; Chiodo and Hoffman.
RESOLUTION FILED
HR 115, by Smith, Dotzler, Osterhaus, Alons, Sherrman, Atteberry,
Kreiman, Murphy, Huseman, Mertz, Foege, Kettering, Johnson,
O'Brien, Boddicker, Arnold, Greimann, Reeder, Boggess, Lensing,
© 2002 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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