Obama plan to use government contracts to increase wages help middle class

[mucifer]

Plan to Seek Use of U.S. Contracts as a Wage Lever

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

The Obama administration is planning to use the government’s enormous buying power to prod private companies to improve wages and benefits for millions of workers, according to White House officials and several interest groups briefed on the plan.

By altering how it awards $500 billion in contracts each year, the government would disqualify more companies with labor, environmental or other violations and give an edge to companies that offer better levels of pay, health coverage, pensions and other benefits, the officials said.

Because nearly one in four workers is employed by companies that have contracts with the federal government, administration officials see the plan as a way to shape social policy and lift more families into the middle class. It would affect contracts like those awarded to make Army uniforms, clean federal buildings and mow lawns at military bases.... snip

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/business/26procure.html?hp

Pretty cool!

[babylonsister]

1. Very cool, but it's good news, might be ignored around these parts.

Me, I rec'd. :thumbsup:

[mucifer]

2. Babs, I think stuff I post gets ignored. But, I thought this plan is really great

it's an indirect jobs bill. It makes sense.

[babylonsister]

4. It's not you, trust me. All depends on

what's being posted and who is around to care about it. Good news does get short shrift around here on occasion, but this is really good news; I hope it gets the attention it deserves.

[zipplewrath]

8. It's very nice.... but

Yes this is nice, and when we talk about why, as a general rule, we'd rather have a Dem than a Repub, this is the deal. Little stuff like this. This is why it is hyperbole to say that Obama is "just like Bush". It's all the little stuff that's done differently.

However, most of us weren't screaming "Yes, we can" for some small marginal changes in operations of contract awards. The GLBT crowd didn't don't a bajillion dollars of money for better domestic partner benefits for civil service employees. And we weren't all standing around in Grant Park because finally we'd get to pass 15 year old GOP plans for healthcare reform.

So, no, this kinda little crap isn't gonna get alot of attention, and it really shouldn't. This is the MINIMUM stuff we'd expect.

[whathehell]

3. K&R...It's good news.

[MercutioATC]

5. Good move, if they actually apply it correctly.

I'll cross my fingers.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

6. Kick n Rec Thanks for posting this n/t

[ShortnFiery]

7. I'd go for that if these govt contracts don't include jobs within "The War Industry."

[dkf]

9. Sounds like a way to skew contracts to union shops.

Payback?

[Igel]

11. More importantly. . .

If you spend enough to raise 10 salaries by 10%, you've spent enough to create a new job. Moreover, you've gone for expensive, albeit no better quality, products--and actually insisted on paying more for the same.

Granted, you've created 10 supporters instead of 1, and helped a corporate entity that provides ample political support, while using tax dollars to obtain less stuff for government than you could have, but those things surely would never occur to a politician, esp. one from Chicago. He's just putting taxpayer money where his mouth is, so he's on par with 536 others in DC? (I include the mayor.)

[mucifer]

14. so government contractors should be paid minimum wage and that would

be great for the nation and the economy?

[Peacetrain]

10. K&R!!!! for good news

[Jennicut]

12. Great idea, I really like it. Giving contracts to companies that treat their workers better.

[Cha]

13. Excellent! Incentive up

the yin yang.

[FrenchieCat]

15. Innovative way of keeping the senate out of things.....

Or I hope they have nothing to do with this!