News for Legislation
Help Us Help You: Be Involved in Legislative Activities
Much is at stake in the 2010 Legislative session. AGC priorities are workers’ comp reform infrastructure investment improvements to the sales tax permit process and prevailing wage clarifications to avoid delays in retainage releases. To achieve these goals we need your help; involvement is as ea...
Posted on: 11/09/2009
House Passes Health Care Bill; Focus Now on Senate
On Saturday night the House passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act 220 to 215 legislation strongly opposed by AGC of America. Washington State Congressional delegation voted along party lines. AGC made a particular push with Rep. Adam Smith (D) who was considered undecided. Rep Smit...
Posted on: 11/09/2009
AGC Opposes Initiative 1033
AGC’s leadership voted to oppose Initiative 1033. I-1033 would limit tax-revenue increases for state city and county governments to the rate of inflation and population growth. AGC’s officers share the concern of several business groups that the initiative would harm public and private constructi...
Posted on: 10/26/2009
The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts: The Ins and Outs of Federal Prevailing Wage Law
Many contractors are bidding federal work and facing federal prevailing wage laws for the first time. Plus the application of the Davis-Bacon to stimulus projects leaves uncertainties about the requirements of federal prevailing wage laws. AGC of America’s webinar series will provide informatio...
Posted on: 10/26/2009
AGC of America Urges Senate to Extend Home Buyer Credit, 5-Year Carryback
The Associated General Contractors of America today urged senators to extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit and the five-year carryback of net operating losses to help reverse dramatic declines in construction employment. Noting that construction employment figures show jobs losses in every...
Posted on: 10/26/2009
Workers' Comp Tax Increase and Reform: Your Help Needed
AGC strongly encourages members to attend and provide testimony at upcoming hearings regarding the proposed workers’ comp tax increase. The proposed 7.6% increase is an average for all employers. Rates vary by classification and firms’ EMR so your rate could be considerably different (and highe...
Posted on: 10/13/2009
Kilcup, Zamzow and McGarry Lobby Congress on Card Check, Infrastructure and More
AGC of Washington President Lee Kilcup (GLY Construction) and Anne Kilcup visit with AGC of Utah President Rob Moore (Big-D Construction) during the National and Chapter Leadership Conference.
Card check legislation infrastructure spending and three percent withholding requirements were among ...
Posted on: 10/13/2009
AGC Pushes Reform of Washington State's Illogical Workers' Comp System
AGC of Washington will work to reform the workers’ compensation system in the 2010 Legislature. The 7.6 percent tax hike proposed by Labor and Industries – actual rates will vary widely among individual construction class rates – was one more source of motivation for seeking a major overhaul of t...
Posted on: 09/28/2009
Regulatory and Funding Issues Among AGC's 2010 Legislative Priorities
Below are AGC’s priorities for the 2010 Legislative Session as recommended by the Government Affairs Council (GAC) and approved by the Board of Trustees. If AGC members have comments or questions about this information they should contact Rick Slunaker AGC’s Director of Government Affairs at rslu...
Posted on: 09/15/2009
Your Comments on I-1033 Needed
AGC has been asked by a business coalition to oppose Initiative 1033 a Tim Eyman initiative on the November ballot that limits annual growth of state city and county general fund revenue to the rate of inflation and population growth. AGC’s Government Affairs Council (GAC) leadership recommends ...
Posted on: 09/15/2009
PLAs and Proposed Federal Rules: Discretion Advised
AGC of America reports that last month the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council issued a notice of proposed rulemaking implementing President Obama’s Executive Order 13502 by creating new FAR contract clauses to be included in Federal contracts should an agency choose to require a Project...
Posted on: 08/04/2009
Congress Approves Highway Trust Fund Fix
AGC of America reports that by a vote of 79-17 the Senate passed legislation to transfer $7 billion of general fund revenue to the Highway Trust Fund to provide enough revenue to ensure state transportation departments will continue receiving full reimbursements for federal-aid highway projects t...
Posted on: 08/04/2009
DHS to Implement E-Verify Rule but Revoke No-Match Rule
Department of Homeland Security will implement a rule (beginning Sept. 8) requiring federal contractors to use the E-Verify system to verify employees authorization to work in the US. Also DHS will rescind a rule establishing procedures for employers upon receipt of a no-match” letter. READ MOR...
Posted on: 07/21/2009
Port of Seattle to Restart Construction on Sea-Tac Rental Car Facility
Citing recent signs of hope in the global economy Port of Seattle Commission voted to restart construction on the new rental car facility to serve Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The June 30 vote followed the recent sale of revenue bonds to finance the facility scheduled to open in 2012. C...
Posted on: 07/06/2009
AGC Names Sen. Holmquist Legislator of the Year
Sen. Janéa Holmquist (R-13 Ephrata) was named Legislator of the Year by AGC of Washington. Sen. Holmquist was presented the award on June 23 during the AGC Board of Trustees annual retreat.
“Sen. Holmquist in her role as Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Labor Commerce & Consumer Prot...
Posted on: 07/06/2009
How Did Your Legislator Vote? See AGC's 2009 Vote Record
AGC presents its 2009 Vote Record to let its members know how legislators voted on bills important to the construction industry. In the 2009 session 13 votes were selected as fairs representation of these issues. See the “score” for each State House and Senate member below. Under that are summ...
Posted on: 07/02/2009
Big Changes in Purchases for Resale
By Darcy Kooiker
As part of its effort to bridge the current budget shortfall the Washington State Legislature passed Senate Bill 6173 which makes substantial changes to the wholesale purchasing process. Beginning in 2010 buyers will be required to use sellers permits rather than resale certifi...
Posted on: 05/27/2009
AGC Members and Staff Have Huge Impact on 2009 Legislature
By David DHondt AGC Executive Vice President
Given what we were faced with in the 2009 Legislature the eventual outcome is a compelling reason why contractors should want to be members of AGC of Washington. A well thought-out and Board-adopted plan a hard working staff and unprecedented member i...
Posted on: 05/12/2009
AGC Webinar: What Has The Legislature Done to Me Now?
The Legislature has acted and now the AGC wants you to know how enacted bills will affect your company including such things as changes in sales tax procedures restrictions on communications in workers comp appeals and issuance of stop work orders. AGCs Legislative Staff will host the 30 minute ...
Posted on: 05/12/2009
Legislative Recap: Summary of Bills Dead and Alive
Among the bills that passed with AGCs support were those involving unemployment insurance and resale certificates. Among AGC-opposed bills that died were those dealing with Retro greenhouse gasses and covered loads. Click Legislative Update for a summary of industry-related bills that passed th...
Posted on: 05/12/2009
AGC: THANK YOU Members for Your Legislative Support!
Seven thousand one hundred and thirty five. Thats how many email messages went to legislators from AGC members a record by all accounts! AGC sent action alerts to members about 11 different bills in 2009 and AGCs position prevailed eight times - a 72 percent success rate and a testament to the ...
Posted on: 04/28/2009
Congress Should Eliminate Restrictions on Green Jobs Training
Congress should eliminate restrictions on new green jobs training grants that disqualify construction training programs that arent affiliated with a union the AGC of America said. Saying the future economy should be as inclusive as possible it urged members of Congress to support newly introduce...
Posted on: 04/28/2009
Sales Tax Collection System for Construction Re-Written by SB 6173
SB 6173 would eliminate the use of Resale Certificates that exempt contractors from paying sales tax on purchases for most construction projects and require contractors to pay sales tax up front and then make a claim later for a credit from the State.
AGC members are encouraged to IMMEDIATELY co...
Posted on: 04/16/2009
SB 6169 Expands Personal Liability for Wider Array of Taxes
Legislation was introduced legislation that would expand personal liability for a wider array of taxes paid by businesses. The bill was introduced yesterday (April 15 ironically tax day) with a hearing held at 8 a.m. the next day.
Under current law certain corporate officials and employees can ...
Posted on: 04/16/2009
Unfunded Family Leave Insurance Kept Alive by Bill
The Senate Ways and Means Committee passed SB 6158 which delays the implementation of the family leave program. The Legislature has not been able to find a funding source to support the family leave program since the original legislation was passed in 2007.
AGC maintains that the program should...