Live From Bucks County, It’s John W. McBush!

Yes, the presumptive Repug nominee for president is actually coming to this area tomorrow to speak at Worth and Company in Bedminster, a contractor who “installs and services heating, cooling and plumbing systems in public and commercial buildings and residences,” according to this Courier Times article (more info is here).

And by the way, I have to note this hilarious sentence from the Inquirer’s coverage (here)…

“Tomorrow's town-hall meeting is not open to the general public.”

Will we then read a sentence one day that tells us “this election is not open to voters” (gotta hand it to “Senator Honor and Virtue”; he sure is learning how to copy Bushco’s tricks in a hurry – would have been nice if the Inky had bothered to call him on that, though, but how silly am I to think that they ever would? And actually, the Courier Times says the exact opposite, and I’d be inclined to believe them over the Inky).

(OK, AfterDowningStreet also says what the Inky says about a "closed town hall meeting," though it's still an oxymoron of sorts.)

And aside from the fact that owner Stephen Worth is a high roller of a Repug donor (the RNC, McCain, Tom Manion, etc.), the “straight-talk express” will pull into this location so Senator McSame can immerse himself in the battle Worth and company faces with the state of PA over approximately $142,000 in wages that company employees allege have yet to be paid on government projects (including Quakertown, PA Middle School) in violation of PA’s prevailing wage law.

In the process, McSame will show his fealty to the Association of Builders and Contractors, which, as noted here, is “a virulently anti-union organization of mostly small companies.”

The trade group was the first national association to back McCain back in February, (ABC Southeastern PA president Geoffrey) Zeh said. ABC opposes project labor agreements, which are deals that usually limit a large-scale construction project to union workers.

Interesting interpretation – wonder where Ms. Portnoy got that?

“McCain certainly is in line with ABC on all our issues, particularly on project labor agreements,” Zeh said. “That’s why we endorsed him.”

The issue has garnered attention in Bucks County because the county has not ruled out a project labor agreement for the proposed justice center in Doylestown. Republican commissioners have said they may at some point ask consultants Joseph Jingoli and Son Inc. to study the feasibility of such a deal.

Although labor supporters say in the long run hiring unions is cheaper than hiring nonunion shops, Zeh said union-only projects generally cost more than projects open to all contractors.

“The less companies that bid on a public job, the higher the costs seem to go,” he said. “Competition keeps prices down. That’s Economics 101.”

Well, that’s about what you would expect, I realize. However, as noted from here…

PLAs are project-specific agreements, negotiated at the outset of a construction project, setting out the terms and conditions of employment for the duration of the project. Such agreements can help reduce costs while increasing efficiency and quality.

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The PLA also ensures that workers…are paid a livable wage, receive health and retirement benefits and have safe working conditions and rules.

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When implemented, PLAs serve as a risk management tool to manage the uncertainties associated with such projects. PLAs have been used as a project management tool on several large local projects, including Safeco Field, Qwest Field, the Port of Seattle’s Pier 66 and South Airport Terminal, Seattle Public Utilities’ Tolt Treatment Facility, the new downtown Seattle Public Library and Harborview Medical Center.

So there you have it; McSame will roll on in, preach his “free market” mantra for the happy few in attendance and the TV cameras, and then depart.

All in a day’s work for a passionate opponent of workers rights who, among other things, opposed the Lilly Ledbetter Pay Act (though he didn’t even bother to show up to vote against it, as noted here).

Update 5/30/08: Too bad...

Update 6/28/08: But not to worry - he's coming on Monday the 30th!!