# The Davis-Bacon Act: Let’s Bring Jim Crow to an End 

January 18, 1993 • Briefing Paper No. 17 

By [David E. Bernstein](https://www.cato.org/people/david-bernstein) 

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The Davis-Bacon Act, which requires that federal construction contractors pay their workers “prevailing wages,” was passed by Congress in 1931 with the intent of favoring white workers who belonged to white-only unions over non-unionized black workers. The act continues to have discriminatory effects today by favoring disproportionately white, skilled and unionized construction workers over disproportionately black, unskilled and non-unionized construction workers. Because Davis-Bacon was passed with discriminatory intent and continues to have discriminatory effects, its enforcement violates the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection of the law. President-elect Clinton and Labor Secretary-designate Reich should therefore exercise their power of “executive review” and refuse to enforce Davis-Bacon.

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##### The Davis-Bacon Act: Let’s Bring Jim Crow to an End 

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##### About the Author 

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##### [David E. Bernstein](/people/david-bernstein)

Adjunct Scholar, Cato Institute; Professor of Law, George Mason University Scalia School of Law

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