Senate votes to repeal labor rule

The Senate has voted to reverse an Obama administration rule designed to ensure that government contractors disclose violations of federal labor laws as they seek more work.

The Senate’s Monday vote sends the measure to President Trump for his signature and marks another success in the GOP’s efforts to quash an array of regulations issued during President Obama’s final months in office.

This time, the Senate voted 49-48 to overturn a rule that required contractors to disclose violations of 14 federal labor laws, including those pertaining to workplace safety, wages and discrimination. Contracting officers would then consider the violations when evaluating bids.

The rule addressed government auditors’ concerns over the years that contracting officers frequently failed to consider violations when awarding contracts because they lacked adequate information.But business groups argued the rule would increase compliance costs for companies and punish all contractors for the actions of a few.

The government estimated the cost of the reporting requirements at about $458 million for contractors in the first year and about $414 million in the second. Business groups also expressed concerns that violations still making their way through a full review could be considered in evaluating a bid.

Supporters of the Obama administration’s efforts, including labor unions, said contractors who cut corners with worker protections are also likely to cut corners in other ways, which can be bad for taxpayers and employees.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said companies that follow the law would merely have to check a box showing they are in compliance.