Why I oppose Obama's Jobs Bill? SCA is why!

[Joey Liberal]

I oppose the jobs bill because it contains the Service Contract Act (SCA). This act allows employers (mainly federal contractors) to provide certain employees with reduced pay and benefits. This act was meant to help people at one time, but is now used against employees. The SCA is a disgrace and it should not be a part of this jobs bill.

[rucky]

1. What's wrong with people dressing up as knights?

[mrmpa]

2. It's early morning & I got it, Society for Creative Anachronism. lol

[elocs]

3. Yes, an imperfect jobs bill that does not please everyone. If it fails, then what?

Three guesses and the first 2 don't count. Hint: it will happen in November of 2012.

[enlightenment]

4. So the appropriate response to any and everything is

praise?

No criticism allowed? No negative opinions? Just like it or keep one's mouth shut?

How very democratic of you.

[Joey Liberal]

5. I agree, enlightenment!

The truth is that President Obama doesn't even know the specifics of his own bill. The SCA is something that republicans, not democrats, support.

[saras]

7. This is something that OUGHT to have bipartisan support...

No, not the jobs bill, the idea that legislators should NOT BE ALLOWED TO PROPOSE, OR VOTE ON, bills that they do NOT know, in detail, the contents of.

[Joey Liberal]

9. Couldn't agree more! nt

[Joey Liberal]

6. If it fails, start over and do it right

If its too late, then it proves that he waited too long.

[elocs]

12. and then we will say hello to President Romney or Perry or worse.

I wonder, would it be worth it in the long run?

[Joey Liberal]

15. Why didn't Obama get rid of the SCA?

Obama put himself in this position by not understanding what the SCA is. The SCA thing is such a racket that it would make John Gotti proud. Nobody wants Romney or Perry - both are the types to support the SCA. So, again, why didn't Obama take the opportunity to scrap it?

[MH1]

17. you keep making that claim but I don't see it. Please explain how the prevailing wage rule HURTS

employees.

I understood it as a positive for liberals.

[Joey Liberal]

18. You understood it wrong

Under the SCA, an employer can drastically reduce pay and benefits of a certain number of employees. For example; they can look at an employee and say "You are now SCA, therefore you don't get the same pay, health insurance, sick leave and other benefits that your co-workers get". And they'll say that its required under the SCA.

If that's a positive for Liberals, then I'll eat my hat.

[Cleita]

8. That and the FICA holiday another way of letting

the camel's nose under the SS and Medicare tent to further undermine it.

[NNN0LHI]

10. You are concerned with the Service Contract Act of 1965?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McNamara%E2%80%93O'Hara_Service_Contract_Act

The McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act of 1965 (SCA), codified at 41 U.S.C. §§ 351–358, requires general contractors and subcontractors performing services on prime contracts in excess of $2,500 to pay service employees in various classes no less than the wage rates and fringe benefits found prevailing in the locality as determined by the United States Department of Labor, or the rates contained in a predecessor contractor's collective bargaining agreement. This is also known as the prevailing wage.

The SCA applies to every contract entered into by the United States or the District of Columbia, the principal purpose of which is to furnish services to the United States through the use of service employees. The SCA requires contractors and subcontractors performing services on covered federal or District of Columbia contracts in excess of $2,500 to pay service employees in various classes no less than the monetary wage rates and to furnish fringe benefits found prevailing in the locality, or the rates (including prospective increases) contained in a predecessor contractor's collective bargaining agreement. Safety and health standards also apply to such contracts.

[Joey Liberal]

13. Yes, that's the one

It is used by corporations today to screw-over employees.

[MH1]

16. "no less than the wage rates and fringe benefits found prevailing in the locality"

no less than

please explain how anyone is hurt by requiring federal contractors to pay at least the prevailing wage?

it doesn't say they MUST pay prevailing wage. If they are paying less for a certain skill than they used to, but still meeting prevailing wage, well that is the labor market. I don't see how this law makes the situation worse. Please explain.

[Joey Liberal]

20. Happy to explain

First of all, most federal contractors pay pretty well with good benefits. SCA allows them to not give employees designated as SCA the same pay and benefits as their co-workers. So, if you live in a red state where the prevailing wages and benefits are low, you get those prevailing pay and benefits, while your co-workers are getting their normal pay and benefits. The law also prevents SCA employees from carrying over any Paid Time Off (PTO). You go to a zero balance every year. So, if you happen to get sick after you go to the SCA mandated zero leave balance, you must take leave without pay. Also, the SCA prohibits SCA designated employees from taking part in educational reimbursement programs and from full participation in company stock purchasing plans. This is somehow supposed to help people. I hope this explanation helps!

[LadyInAZ]

11. oh my... as i suspected...

forced into taking lower pay if u want to work and survive... all i know i worked hard to get where i am... this can hurt a lot of white collar higher pay careers... what will they think of next...

[Joey Liberal]

14. Yes, I'm a victim of the SCA

The law was intended to help people back in 1965. In 2011, its used to hurt people. It's quite a racket.

[Joey Liberal]

22. They'll think of something. SCA is evil. n/t

[Modern_Matthew]

19. I still support this bill.

No piece of legislation will be without some obscure portion that pisses someone off.

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

Fuck it. Just pass the goddamn bill.

[Joey Liberal]

21. I will never support it with the SCA included. n/t