U.S. House and Senate have voted to repeal Dept. of Labor’s 'blacklisting' rule

The U.S. Senate recently joined the House in voting against the so-called “blacklisting rule.”

The Department of Labor’s Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Act, the rule’s formal name, would require contractors bidding on federal construction projects over $500,000 to submit their history of labor compliance to the department for review. Unions and labor groups backed the Obama-era regulation, while industry trade groups lined up against it. The Senate vote effectively kills the measure.

The Associated General Contractors of America and the Associated Builders and Contractors objected on the grounds that the rule violated their members’ First Amendment rights by requiring them to disclose compliance information. They also said the rule would add implementation costs, making it difficult for smaller contractors to compete on federal projects.

Supporters of the regulation said it would improve accountability for the spending of tax dollars as well as job site safety.