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A Democratic-led committee shot down a key pro-union bill Wednesday, leading some in organized labor to question whether some Democrats are turning their backs on workers.

Meanwhile, another pro- union measure could meet the same fate today.

Two Democrats joined with five Republicans on the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee to kill a bill that would require state contractors to pay prevailing wages on any public works project.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. John Soper, D-Thornton, said as Colorado launches road and energy projects, it must ensure that workers are paid enough to stimulate the economy.

Several witnesses, including Colorado State University-Pueblo business professor Kevin Duncan, said surveys show that states with such laws do not see a marked increase in project costs, mainly because higher-priced workers are more efficient.