Business leaders say Oregon has more red tape than other states, leaving firms susceptible to recruitment
House Republicans saw the bill before them near the end of the legislative session as yet another regulation that would make manufacturing harder and stifle Oregon’s competitiveness.
The measure, which is set to take effect later this month, will expand the definition of public works and require businesses to pay the state’s prevailing wage for off-site construction work done for public works projects — things like boiler systems, ornamental iron work and roofing that could be made elsewhere and brought to a construction site.
It passed the House on a bare minimum 31-22 vote, and with warnings from Republicans including Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville, that the bill would push manufacturing jobs out of Oregon. Breese-Iverson cited her district’s…
