Massachusetts House overrides Baker’s veto of Holyoke Soldiers’ Home construction requirements

In a 130-30 party line vote, state representatives overrode Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto of a project labor agreement for the construction of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.

“We are here to insist the PLA language remain in the bill,” state Rep. Danielle Gregoire, D-Marlboro, said in a testimony Wednesday afternoon. “Gillette Stadium, the Boston Garden, MGM and Encore casinos, the Taunton courthouse, Boston Convention Center and Mass Mutual Center are all examples of projects successfully built with a PLA.”

The agreement would require that the $400 million project be completed with unionized labor, a proposition that unanimously passed in both the House and Senate earlier this year.

Baker has argued that the override, if also passed by the Senate, would “significantly increase project costs for the much-needed reconstruction of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home,” according to a statement by Executive Office of Administration and Finance spokesman Patrick Marvin.

He added that this requirement would “effectively (block) … minority, women, and veteran-owned Massachusetts-based (small) businesses from bidding on the contract,” a claim echoed by Jason Kauppi, president of the Merit Construction Alliance, which represents merit shop contractors and their employees.

Marvin said the PLA would increase project costs, potentially beyond the $400 million allotted, which would jeopardize the state’s ability to cash in on a 65% reimbursement from the federal government.

Should the bid be overly expensive, the VA could instead choose to fund multiple projects elsewhere in the country over this one project.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Gregoire refuted Baker’s arguments point-for-point. She argued that PLAs “do not bar anyone from bidding on this project,” and that “some businesses may choose not to bid but the standards ensure strong wages and labor protections,” she said.

She also refuted Baker’s claim that PLAs inherently raise the cost of construction projects, and used the Taunton courthouse as an example. The Taunton Gazette reported at the time that that project came in at $6 million under budget.

Gregoire also argued that, rather than jeopardizing project timelines, PLAs help move them along by prohibiting work stoppages, therefore limiting labor disputes, she said. She added that a 2009 executive order by the federal government recommended that PLAs be used for large construction projects, refuting Baker’s claim about federal funds.

“His administration was repeatedly asked to produce proof of the claims he has raised and failed to produce anything,” she said.

Seventy-seven veterans died at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home last year following a COVID-19 outbreak. Baker has come under fire for his mismanagement of the crisis.

The House also adopted an order directing the newly formed Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights and Inclusion to investigate and study inclusion in the construction industry.

“We know that access to public contracting is not equitable. There have been some strides made, but this is a clear commitment by the House to study the issue comprehensively,” state Rep. Bud Williams, D-Springfield, said in a testimony on the issue. “Sometimes you have to build a bigger box, and that’s what we’re trying to do here with PLAs on public contracts.”

State House News Service contributed to this report.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3yaGcOZ