Jonathan Oosting, Detroit News Lansing Bureau
Published 1:40 p.m. ET May 15, 2018
Lansing – A push to repeal Michigan’s prevailing wage law for construction workers hit a snag on Tuesday.
The Michigan Supreme Court suspended a lower-court order requiring the Board of State Canvassers to certify petition signatures as the seven justices decide whether to hear an appeal.
The high court did not rule on the merits of the case and could still reject an appeal by a coalition of unions and union-friendly contractors.
But the Tuesday afternoon “stay” prompted cancellation of a canvassers meeting and delays likely action in Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature, which is expected to take up the prevailing wage repeal measure if it reaches lawmakers. Approval would bypass a threatened veto by GOP Gov. Rick Snyder.
The 1965 law guarantees union-level pay and benefits for construction workers on projects funded by the state government. Repeal proponents argue prevailing wage inflates construction costs ultimately borne by taxpayers, while opponents maintain repeal would lower wages and limit training programs they fund.
The Michigan Court of Appeals last week ordered the Board of State Canvassers to certify the prevailing wage repeal petition after the panel deadlocked in late April in a 2-2 vote.
The Michigan Bureau of Elections had recommended certification of the prevailing wage ban ballot proposal, but both Democrats on the bipartisan panel voted against the prevailing wage repeal measure amid arguments over false addresses provided by circulators who had collected signatures.