A $425,000 park shelter project paid for entirely through donations has sparked a proposal to tweak the state's prevailing wage law for the second time in three months.

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By James Briggs A bill targeting the state’s prevailing wage law could begin circulating within weeks. The legislation not only would seek to roll back the most recent changes made under the previous Democratic-controlled Legislature, but also would soften the ...

Tagged with: ABC Construction Business Group Mary Williams Mielke prevailing wage Robb Kahl

By James Briggs Some construction groups are celebrating tangible evidence of a shifting state Capitol culture after years spent fighting new rules designed to govern the industry. Gov. Scott Walker this week introduced a bill that would make it more ...

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By Paul Snyder Campaigns for the state Legislature and the growing debate over transportation spending are likely to collide in the November elections. Many Wisconsin counties are lining up advisory referendums to ask voters if they support a constitutional amendment ...

Tagged with: Construction Business Group Craig Thompson election International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139 McGowan state Legislature transportation budget Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Association transportation spending Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce

By Paul Snyder Predicting a drain on their construction budget, Outagamie County officials are adding their voices to the chorus of boos directed at the state’s new prevailing wage law. “We don’t have the authority to say we’re not going ...

Tagged with: Construction Business Group Outagamie County prevailing wage repeal Robb Kahl Wisconsin Counties Association Wisconsin County Highway Association

By Paul Snyder The state’s prevailing wage reporting requirements that were on hold while a judge considered a request for an injunction are back in effect. Dane County Circuit Court Judge John Markson Thursday denied the request for an injunction ...

Tagged with: Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin Inc. Construction Business Group Dane County Circuit Court prevailing wage Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

By Paul Snyder Union officials are blaming counties for killing a bill that would have required licenses for crane and heavy equipment operators. Counties wanted their employees exempted from licensing, said Robb Kahl, executive director of the Construction Business Group, ...

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By Paul Snyder A proposal to license heavy equipment operators is overkill for an industry already with plenty to lose if the wrong person is running a big machine, according to a 31-year construction veteran. “There are some operators that ...

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By Paul Snyder A bill that would repeal every prevailing wage law change enacted in last year’s state budget faces long odds in the Democrat-controlled Legislature. State Rep. Mary Williams, R-Medford, has drafted a bill that would reinstate a threshold ...

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By Paul Snyder Three contractor groups are aligning themselves with the Department of Workforce Development in support of changes to the state’s prevailing wage law. Those groups — the Construction Business Group, the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association and the Wisconsin ...

Tagged with: ABC Associated Builders & Contractors of Wisconsin Brian Mitchell Construction Business Group Department of Workforce Development DWD law Markson prevailing wage Robb Kahl wages Wanta Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association WTBA