ABSTRACT
Until the mid-1970's debate over prevailing wage laws in construction was limited to its effect on project costs and taxpayer expenses. In 1975 Armond J. Thieblot introduced a new argument, that the Davis Bacon Act was, at least in part, motivated by racial bigotry. Thieblot noted that the issue of race was mentioned explicitly only once during the House debate on Davis Bacon by a Southern Congressman, but asserted that thinly veiled allusions to race could be found in other speeches including those of Congressman Bacon (Thieblot, 1975, p. 9).
