Via Twitter:

What is it with republicans that the concept of paying working people a living wage is anathema to them?

@ssnich Sean Nicholson

At #MHDC mtg, @PeterKinder’s proposal to junk #prevailingwage for Joplin projects loses big. Cynical move fails to even get a second. #pdk 16 Dec

A statement from Governor Jay Nixon (D):

December 16, 2011

Gov. Nixon issues statement on MHDC vote to invest $94 million in Joplin housing

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon issued the following statement regarding today’s vote by the Missouri Housing Development Commission to invest $94 million in rebuilding temporary and long-term housing in Joplin:

“I applaud the Missouri Housing Development Commission for committing these significant resources to support the rebuilding of homes in Joplin. This vote was another important step forward for our Jumpstart Joplin initiative to provide both temporary and long-term housing for people affected by the tornado, and this investment of more than $90 million will make a tremendous and lasting difference for this community. The commission’s action also ensures that quality contractors and builders will be involved with these projects, and that the workers who build these homes will earn a fair wage for doing so. As I’ve said from Day One, the state of Missouri will continue to stand with the people of Joplin at every stage of this recovery and rebuilding process.”

[emphasis added]

Meanwhile, in the General Assembly, a prefiled bill by Representative Bill Lant (r):

SECOND REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 1053

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES LANT (Sponsor), FLANIGAN AND REIBOLDT (Co-sponsors).

4215L.01I                                                                                             D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To amend chapter 290, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to prevailing wages.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

           Section A. Chapter 290, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 290.235, to read as follows:

           290.235. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Disaster Area Construction Act”. The provisions of this section apply to construction projects that are dedicated to rebuilding or repairing any school facility or any county, city, town, or village structure or infrastructure damaged by a disaster.

           2. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, for work done on behalf of a school district, county, city, town, or village located in an area declared to be a disaster area by the governor of the state, a school district or a county, city, town, or village may exempt itself from the provisions of sections 290.210 to 290.340 upon majority vote of the governing body of such school district or county, city, town, or village. If the school district or county, city, town, or village exempts itself from sections 290.210 to 290.340, the school district or county, city, town, or village shall notify the division of labor standards within the department of such exemption.

           3. This section shall not apply to a city not within a county or a home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county.

Priorities. Because corporate profits in the aftermath of a disaster can never be too high.