Indiana's law that sets wages for public construction projects would be repealed under a plan being backed by Republican leaders in the Indiana House, a move that could set off a new battle with labor unions.
Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma said Monday the move would save an estimated 10 percent to 20 percent on state construction projects by allowing more contractors to pay less than union-scale wages.
The bill set for a public hearing Tuesday would eliminate the boards that set construction wages for each state or local project.
The new push comes three years after Republicans pushed through the state's right-to-work law that drew thousands of union protesters.
House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath says contractors pushing for the change want to bring in low-wage workers from outside Indiana.
