STRATEN OPPOSES DAVIS-BACON EXTENSIONS AS WASTES

Getting the most for each taxpayer dollar, should be a primary responsibility of Congress, but isn't, according to Roland Straten, the Republican candidate for Congress from New Jersey's 8th District. "The continuation and further implementation of the Davis-Bacon Act by this Congress shows that it has priorities for special interests that trump the interests of the taxpayer," says Straten, who identifies himself as a fiscal conservative.

The Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 originally set a minimum wage for road building and other federal projects. Today it virtually guarantees a "super minimum wage" for some workers, while shutting out others and their employers, according to Straten.

"We could be doing much more with the same taxpayer dollar, if Davis-Bacon were repealed," says Straten. "Instead, during this difficult period for the wage-earner and taxpayer, when Congress should be trying to give them a break, they are trying to extend the measure."

The Democrats, in control of both Houses, are inserting Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements in the farm bill, the cap-and-trade global warming bill, the clean water bill, the housing bailout bill and school construction bill. Many reputable studies have estimated that Davis-Bacon inflates federal constructions costs by as much as 39 percent.

"It's an insidious measure that most people don't know about, but is costing the taxpayer billions," says Staten. "It now requires a minimum wage for workers on federal projects that is well above the common wage for most workers doing that job." Minority workers and firms are shut out of many federal projects because of Davis-Bacon, Straten asserts. He says that they can do the job for much less, but because of the provisions of the prevailing-wage law, the jobs are given to other firms.

"Some special interests are benefiting, while the taxpayers and many wage-earners are hurt, because this Congress gets away with maintaining Davis Bacon," says Straten. "The economy and the taxpayer would benefit from the repeal of this measure, which now does something completely different from what it was intended to do."

Straten believes that there are many common sense solutions to the federal debt and deficit. A small businessman in Paterson for most of his life, he believes he has the reasoning ability and experience to make the kind of budget decisions that will cut expenditures and hold down taxes.

"If I know this stuff, the Democratic Congress must know it, too." says Straten. "They just don't have the will to fix it. If elected, I would."

Straten has identified the federal debt and deficit as the most threatening domestic issue that faces the nation. He points out that federal debt is placing a higher and higher burden on the future. "This Congress does things that make people feel good for the moment that will come back to haunt the taxpayer,” says Straten. "The people are not being told the truths that would enable them to make enlightened choices. Instead, current elected officials tell them what they want to hear. I would tell them the truth, even if they didn't like it."