Friday, January 25, 2008

House passes university bonding bill after long debate

Ryan Alessi @ PolWatchers reports:

The state House, for the fourth year running, passed a measure allowing public universities to sell bonds for constructing campus projects without those moves counting against the state government's total debt.

While the bill -- sponsored by Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville -- passed the chamber unanimously by a 91-0 vote, it only sailed through after a lengthy debate over the concept of prevailing wage.

Rep. Tim Moore, R-Elizabethtown, said on the floor that he considered attaching an amendment to Damron's university bonding bill that would repeal prevailing wage, which sets a minimum pay rate for construction workers on public projects....

...But it sparked a stream of opposition from Democrats...

Rep. Rick Nelson, D-Middlesboro, said "whether you're building a school house or an outhouse, you still deserve a living wage that you can provide for your family."

The normally mild mannered Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, rose to politely chide Moore, a freshman lawmaker, saying he would give Moore some latitude for a honeymoon period...

...Moore later joked that he understands the honeymoon period in Frankfort is short -- like "a one night stand."

On the merits of the actual bill, Damron described it as a way to give universities more financial flexibility while still allowing the General Assembly oversight...

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