SB 2018-175: The Federal Government as a Model Employer Act (Rejected) (user search)
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  SB 2018-175: The Federal Government as a Model Employer Act (Rejected) (search mode)
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Author Topic: SB 2018-175: The Federal Government as a Model Employer Act (Rejected)  (Read 2552 times)
Pericles
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« on: March 29, 2018, 03:51:09 PM »

I'd like to make a short statement in favor of this bill to start things off. So, originally I intended for this idea to be an executive order, but I wasn't elected President. Instead though, we can legislate this proposal into law under this bill to achieve the same goal. The federal government should be a model employer, and can use federal contracts to influence the behavior of federal contractors and this can have flow-on effects on private sector behavior. Under this bill, the federal government will preference contractors that pay at least $14 an hour, that affirm, rather than impede, the unionization of their workers, that provide stable, full-time hours and provide a full, standard benefits package. The federal government can do these things, and so it should be doing them. This will strengthen our middle class and working people, and with a bit of a push from the federal government, we can level the playing field in the workforce and start reducing the excessive inequality we see today and instead have a stronger middle-class in Atlasia.
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Pericles
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« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2018, 10:03:33 PM »

Any analysis has to be a dynamic analysis to account for the higher wages resulting, let alone the potential for an increase in private sector wages. Also, those are multiple studies, and should not simply be dismissed.
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Pericles
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« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2018, 10:42:54 PM »

There have been recent cases where federal contractors are grossly underpaid, to the extent that they have to rely on food stamps to survive. Meanwhile, executive pay has risen among federal contractors. This is a disgrace. And it's not even rational on a cost-saving basis, as the federal government racks up increased costs on programs like SNAP to compensate for their contractors under-paying their workers. In fact, the number of federal contract employees who aren't earning enough to support themselves and their families is nearly 2 million, more than the number of private-sector employees in Atlasia at Wal-Mart and McDonalds combined. There's a ripple effect as low-paid workers and their families have little money to spend, hindering economic growth that could be creating more jobs(and this increases the deficit). These federal contract workers contribute less in taxes and more likely in public benefits. All Atlasians would benefit from an economy where federal contract workers earn fair wages—and we have a special responsibility to ensure that the people working on behalf of our nation are paid and treated fairly. Raising standards for people working on behalf of our nation is one important piece to providing opportunities for workers to reach the middle class.
Here are links to read more;
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/08/03/opinion/make-the-government-a-model-employer.html
http://www.demos.org/publication/underwriting-bad-jobs-how-our-tax-dollars-are-funding-low-wage-work-and-fueling-inequali
http://www.nelp.org/content/uploads/2015/03/NELP-Taking-Low-Road-Federal-Contracting.pdf
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Pericles
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« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2018, 10:24:01 PM »

I will address the points made soon and may introduce amendments to the bill, so object to Mr Reactionary's request.
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Pericles
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« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2018, 07:54:10 PM »

First of all I addressed the cost issue in previous posts. Secondly, with the issue of federal government discretion, I'm trying to get a balance between allowing appropriate discretion while preventing the government from actively gutting the bill and just ignoring it. I'm mindful of the issues irl Obamacare is having in this regard. However, what would be best is that rather than this being a reason for a nay vote, other Senators can work to improve this bill and we can amend it appropriately. I do think a transition period of around 1 year would be appropriate so may also introduce an amendment to that bill. This bill is not the final product, and we should amend it to make it even better. Therefore I object to holding a final vote on it-and invite Senators who have concerns to work with me and make a good bill into a great bill.
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Pericles
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« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2018, 10:03:14 PM »

Nay.
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Pericles
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« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2018, 10:44:15 PM »

Ending debate at this stage is entirely inappropriate, as the bill needs to be amended. A nay vote by the Senate would not be taken as the final verdict on this issue. If this legislation passes however, then I will work with the House to amend it and make it even better.
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Pericles
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« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2018, 10:49:36 PM »

Aye.
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Pericles
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« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2018, 02:59:24 PM »

NotMadigan you should have voted to continue debate.
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