SB139 is unfair, hypocritical

One of the more insidious legislative proposals in this year's session is SB139, "Minimum Wage Provisions," sponsored by Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper. This bill would prohibit cities, towns and counties in Utah from giving preferences to contractors that pay a "living wage." It states that no city, town or county shall give preferences to contractors based on paying wages any higher than the federal minimum wage (currently $5.15 per hour).

SB139 is quite clearly aimed at Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's executive order giving preferences to contractors who pay a living wage of at least $9.06 per hour (with health benefits) or $10.56 (without health benefits).

Besides being grossly unfair to workers, SB139 contains irony. Sen. Stephenson and his political conferees on the Hill have a history of complaining about the federal government's interference in state and local affairs.

The hypocrisy embedded exposes the real motive. The people they truly wish to give "preferences" to are those who are already wealthy and whose primary objective is to maximize their profits, often at the expense of workers and the public.

Warren Brodhead

vice president, American Federation of Teachers/Utah