The White House is looking at a new policy that would give an advantage in bidding on government contracts to companies that offer generous benefits and good pay.
But business groups opposing the idea maintain it would shut out smaller businesses from competing for more than $500 billion a year in federal contracts and increase government procurement costs.
The policy is known as “high road” contracting and could draw the Obama administration into a larger debate over whether the government should use public purse strings to strengthen the middle class and promote higher labor standards. continue reading