In the wake of the hurricanes President Bush suspended the Davis-Bacon wage law, which requires federal contractors to pay at least the prevailing wage to construction workers in a local area. Even though the White House said the suspension was necessary to cut rebuilding costs and open opportunities to minority-owned companies, the move angered a number of Republicans (along with unions and other pro-worker groups), who said that it would result in lower pay for workers. Today the administration announced they would reinstate the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage law Nov. 8 in Louisiana, Mississippi and selected other counties where it had been suspended. Part of this change of heart was due to pressure from Congressional Republicans, 37 of whom signed a letter to Bush supporting the reinstatement. Washington Post: Prevailing Wages To Be Paid Again on Gulf Coast (10.27.05)