The Colorado House’s rare Saturday session bogged down during the morning over the cost of state contractors paying prevailing wages and providing training programs.

Prevailing wages are pay and benefits set by the government in a contract.

Democrats behind Senate Bill 196 said it’s a means of ensuring the state has better-skilled workers who are paid fairly.

“This reflects something Colorado desperately needs,” said House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, D-Denver, who sponsored the bill.

Republicans countered that the legislation is a Democratic gift to the unions, a detriment to small businesses that won’t be able to compete for contracts and a vehicle to drive up the cost of public projects.

Rep. Susan Beckman, R-Littleton, a former contract manager for the state, said “prevailing wage” and “apprenticeships” are code words for union jobs.

“It’s pretty obvious what this bill does,” she said. “It’s a special interest bill. This is not to provide higher quality. It’s to increase the cost.”

Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City, called the GOP claims a misconception.

“We are in a crisis situation in Colorado right now with finding construction workers, and all bids are higher” she said. 

Benavidez noted that many cities, including Denver, have prevailing wage laws.

“It has not bankrupted that city,” Benavidez said. “And it hasn’t been a situation where only union contractors get contracts.”

Rep. Kim Ransom, R-Jefferson County, countered, “Guess what? The market will raise wages if we let it do its job.”

The apprenticeship requirement would apply to state government projects of $1 million or more. The prevailing wage would apply to those of $500,000 million or more.

The bill, which already has passed the Senate, got preliminary approval on a voice vote Saturday. It will need a roll call vote before returning to the upper chamber before the session ends next Friday.