[lbo-talk] Responsibilities

[Somebody Somebody]

Further evidence of the (minor) difference between the parties on bread and butter issues, that ultimately help sustain the two party system. Democrats occasionally seek to moderate the growing class divide in this country:

Plan to Seek Use of U.S. Contracts as a Wage Lever

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

Published: February 25, 2010

The Obama administration is planning to use the government’s enormous
buying power to prod private companies to improve wages and benefits
for millions of workers, according to White House officials and several
interest groups briefed on the plan.

By altering how it awards $500 billion in contracts each year, the
government would disqualify more companies with labor, environmental or
other violations and give an edge to companies that offer better levels
of pay, health coverage, pensions and other benefits, the officials
said.

Because nearly one in four workers is employed by companies that have
contracts with the federal government, administration officials see the
plan as a way to shape social policy and lift more families into the
middle class. It would affect contracts like those awarded to make Army
uniforms, clean federal buildings and mow lawns at military bases.

Although the details are still being worked out, the outline of the
plan is drawing fierce opposition from business groups and Republican
lawmakers. They see it as a gift to organized labor and say it would
drive up costs for the government in the face of a $1.3 trillion budget
deficit.

Link: <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/business/26procure.html?hpw>

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