Payback: union labor might be requirement on federal construction projects (example: the stimulus bill)

On Friday, Barack Obama signed an Executive Order [1] that contains this:

...it is the policy of the Federal Government to encourage executive agencies to consider requiring the use of project labor agreements in connection with large-scale construction projects in order to promote economy and efficiency in Federal procurement.

"Project labor agreements" mean the exclusive use of union labor, as described elsewhere in the Order. A "large-scale" project is one over $25 million, and there would no doubt be a large number of such projects under the stimulus plan. On the one hand, this might minimize the number of illegal aliens employed under the plan. On the other, it's a sleazy payoff to unions, and a percentage of the money that Obama would distribute to them would find its way back into the coffers of the Democratic Party and their politicians.

Unfortunately, the RNC incorrectly implies that it would be a requirement when it's only an "encourage[ment]", saying (gop.com/news/NewsRead.aspx?Guid=1a19aba7-f84c-4a3a-aba0-60ab872fab6e):

President Obama’s executive order will drive up the cost of government at a time when we should be doing everything possible to save taxpayer dollars. Federal contracts should go to the businesses that can offer taxpayers the best value – not just the unions who supported the Democrats’ campaigns last year. Quietly signing executive orders to payback campaign backers undermines Obama promise to change Washington. It is a disappointment for Americans hoping for more transparency and less politics as usual in Washington.

[1] whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/
EXECUTIVEORDERUSEOFPROJECTLABORAGREEMENTSFORFEDERALCONSTRUCTIONPROJECTS

Sat, 02/07/2009 - 16:26 · Importance: 4