For 2023, the minimum wage required to be paid by US Federal Contractors under Executive Order 14026 increases to $16.20 an hour.

Beginning January 30, 2022, all federal agencies were required to incorporate a $15 minimum wage in new contract solicitations pursuant to an executive order signed by President Joseph R. Biden on April 27, 2021.

The order requires federal contractors to pay a minimum wage for employees working on or in connection with a federal government contract.

Tipped employees performing work on or in connection with contracts covered by Executive Order 14026 must be paid a minimum cash wage of $13.75 per hour.

Contractors and subcontractors must certify they meet this condition requiring the minimum wage. This certification is a condition of payment to the contractors from the government. The order does not apply to grants; contracts, contract-like instruments, or certain specific type of agreements with Indian Tribes.

For 2023, tipped workers received 85% of the wage rate in effect for non-tipped employees, rounded to the nearest multiple of $0.05. Beginning January 1, 2024, and for each subsequent year, tipped workers must receive 100% of the wage received by non-tipped workers, eliminating the difference between the type of workers. Adjustments must be considered by employers of tipped workers who do not receive a sufficient additional amount on account of tips to equal to the minimum wage of non-tipped workers.

If a state or municipality has a higher minimum wage, the Executive Order does not excuse noncompliance with the laws requiring the higher wage.

Gov. Mark Gordon signed a bill modifying provisions related to procurement and contracting by governmental entities.

House Bill 50 increases the amount to $15,000 for bids or contracts for supplies or services required to be made by competitive sealed bidding.

Additionally, the bill allows an elected state official to contract for supplies or services by competitive negotiation without department approval.

This can be done when:

• • The contract is for $25,000 or less
  • The elected state official determines the use of competitive sealed bidding is not feasible or practical

House Bill 50 becomes effective October 1, 2020.

Campaign Finance

National: “Duped into Making a Bogus Campaign Donation? Call a Prosecutor” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg Government

Oklahoma: “Does Citizens United Apply to Cherokee Nation Election Campaigns? Hearing Set to Consider Possible Disqualification of Cherokee Chief Candidate David Walkingstick” by Corey Jones for Tulsa World

Oregon: “Prosecutor’s $500 Donation to Judge’s Campaign Draws Ethics Complaint” by Aimee Green for Portland Oregonian

Ethics

National: “Rudy Giuliani Cancels His Trip to Ukraine, Blaming Democrats’ ‘Spin’” by Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) for MSN

National: “White House Asked McGahn to Declare Trump Never Obstructed Justice” by Michael Schmidt (New York Times) for MSN

National: “Trump and His Allies Are Blocking More Than 20 Separate Democratic Probes in an All-Out War with Congress” by Rachael Bade and Seung Min Kim (Washington Post) for MSN

Missouri: “St. Louis Economic Development Chief Pleads Guilty in Pay-to-Play Scheme; Stenger Donor Indicted” by Robert Patrick and Jeremy Kohler for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lobbying

Canada: “Watchdog Warns Lobbyists About Partisan Fundraisers, Expressing Political Views” by Carl Meyer for National Observer

Procurement

Mississippi: “Pay to Play? Why Did Mississippi Lawmakers Give This Company So Much Education Money?” by Giacomo Bologna for Jackson Clarion-Ledger