Forcing a vote on Davis-Bacon

Three cheers for George Miller:

Rep. George Miller of California filed a measure under a never-before-used parliamentary procedure that would require a House vote on whether to overturn Bush's Sept. 8 order allowing federal contractors to pay workers in hurricane-ravaged states less than local prevailing wages.

Miller's maneuver under the 1976 National Emergencies Act requires a vote by Nov. 4 on an issue that has Democrats united and Republicans divided.

If Republican leaders fail to hold a vote on Miller's joint resolution by Nov. 4, the act allows him to demand that one be held within three days, according Miller spokesman Tom Kiley.

For those who are unfamiliar, Davis-Bacon forces the government to pay a prevailing wage to workers for contracted work. The President issued an order after Hurricane Katrina suspending the rules, citing lower costs to the government for repairing the storm ravaged region.

Here's an idea to cut costs: stop paying Mike Brown, failed FEMA head, his salary.