GOP plan to reduce road funding red tape has Democrats worried about wages

House Republicans approved a bill Thursday they say would reduce red tape and free up money for state road projects, though Democrats argued it would remove protections for workers and end a requirement that the state buy American-made steel.

House File 203 allows counties and cities to "swap" federal money they receive for road projects in exchange for state dollars. The move essentially allows them to bypass a number of federal regulations that Rep. Gary Worthan, a Republican from Storm Lake who managed the bill, described as overly burdensome.

He said removing some of those regulations means creating efficiency and saving money. But Democrats said those regulations are important to Iowa workers and should be preserved. Among them are requirements that construction projects pay a prevailing wage to workers and that they use American-made steel.

“This bill is more than what it has been introduced as," said Rep. Jerry Kearns, D-Keokuk. "It is a swipe at American workers, American-made products and is a way to pay lesser wages that your constituents and my constituents should be getting."

Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/09/iowa-gop-plan-reduce-road-funding-red-tape-has-democrats-worried-wages/97698076/