News for Legislation
House Committee Votes in Favor of Cap and Trade Bill
AGC is opposing cap and trade legislation requested by Governor Gregoire. The bill HB 1819 was recently voted out of the House Committee on Ecology and Parks.
HB 1819 and the Senate version SB 5735 would implement a regional cap and trade program linking Washington with other states and Canadia...
Posted on: 02/18/2009
Bill Mandates Major Reductions in Buildings' Energy Use
AGC opposes legislation to significantly tighten building envelopes and save energy as a means to reduce greenhouse gasses.
The bill (HB 1747) would require the Department of Community Trade & Economic Development (CTED) to develop and implement a strategic plan for enhancing energy efficien...
Posted on: 02/18/2009
AGC to Legislature: Preserve Unemployment Tax Credits for Employers
Tucked within Governor Gregoires state stimulus package is a provision that has gotten the attention of the business community. Gregoire has proposed an expansion of unemployment benefits as well as a temporary reduction in the unemployment insurance tax.
AGC endorses the infrastructure investm...
Posted on: 02/04/2009
Devil in Details of Employer \Gag Rule\ Legislation
The title of the legislation seems innocent enough: Prohibiting certain employer communications about political or religious matters. But the bill describes political communications in such a way as to squelch important discussions between employer and employees.
SB 5446/HB 1528 defines politi...
Posted on: 02/04/2009
Measure Could Allow L&I to Shut Down Operations for Minor Infractions
The Department of Labor and Industries could shut down a jobsite or even a contractors entire operations for employee classification errors should bills HB1554/SB5613 be passed by the Legislature.
Rick Slunaker AGCs chief lobbyist testified in strong opposition to the bill before the Senate Comm...
Posted on: 02/04/2009
Bill Restricts Employer-Physician Workers' Comp Communications
If a workers compensation claim is appealed employers will not be able to discuss an employees condition with that employees physician according to a measure now before the State Legislature.
AGC adamantly opposes the legislation SB5627/HB1402.
This legislation removes a useful claims managemen...
Posted on: 02/04/2009
Bid Listing Bill? Hear More During Legislative Conference Call
A bill would require the listing of all first tier subcontractors with bids in excess of $50K or any other subcontractor whose bid exceeds $350K. Plus it shifts the burden of proof against bid shopping claims to the general contractor. More details will be published in AGC Works but hear the la...
Posted on: 02/04/2009
Stimulus Bill Buoys Multiple Construction Types
At the recent AGC of Washington Annual Convention AGC of America lobbyist Jeff Shoaf and economist Ken Simonson provided an up-to-the-minute review of the economic stimulus package working its way through Congress now. The situation is fluid but here are latest details from AGC of America:
Stim...
Posted on: 01/27/2009
Possible Repeal of 3% Withholding Law Through Stimulus Package?
The federal economic stimulus package is not just about infrastructure investments. It contains many provisions of keen interest to the construction industry - including the three percent withholding law for government contracts. Jeff Shoaf Executive Director of Government and Public Affairs fo...
Posted on: 01/27/2009
Support the Industry! Meet Governor and Legislators at AGC Lobby Day
Learn about legislative issues that impact your business and take the industrys message to Legislators and the Governor at AGCs Lobby Day Feb. 19. Please plan to attend and play a key role in advancing the industrys objectives! GLY Construction has generously donated a van to bring participants...
Posted on: 01/27/2009
What's Up in Olympia? Find Out During Weekly Calls
Plan on participating in AGCs Weekly Legislative Conference Calls during the 2009 State legislative session to keep current on AGC priority issues under consideration by the Legislature. AGC lobbyists will give a brief status report; discuss legislative activities and action alerts and answer yo...
Posted on: 01/06/2009
AGC Sets 2009 Legislative Priorities
In preparation for the 2009 session of the Washington State Legislature the AGC Board of Trustees adopted the Government Affairs Council recommendations for its 2009 legislative priorities. Affirmative statements of significant issues AGC will work for or against during the 2009 Legislative Sess...
Posted on: 12/16/2008
Results of AGC Legislative Survey
AGC Members Speak Out on Legislative Priorities for 2009
AGCs Legislative Affairs Office reports the results of its survey of members and thanks those who took part. The survey will help determine AGCs legislative priorities for the 2009 session. One of the Legislative Offices key initiatives ...
Posted on: 10/14/2008
November Ballot Measures
AGCs Board of Trustees endorsed the ballot measure (King County Charter Amendment 8) to make the offices of King County Executive King County Assessor and King County Council nonpartisan. That is the only ballot measure AGC took a position on. Other business or construction-related initiatives -...
Posted on: 10/14/2008
State Congressional Delegation Divided on Bailout Bill
With the defeat of the financial rescue plan in the U.S. House of Representatives congressional leaders and the Bush Administration were scrambling to come up with a Plan B. Congress is expected to reconvene tomorrow (Wed. Oct. 1) in the hope of recrafting a package.
AGC of America had strongly...
Posted on: 09/30/2008
Gregoire Suspends the Washington State Family Leave Program…Or Did She?
In a move supported by AGC Gov. Gregoire made a fairly surprising announcement that the state would suspend funding for its paid family leave program. The Governor made the announcement during a debate before the Association of Washington Business and the move was later confirmed by Karen Lee Co...
Posted on: 09/30/2008
What Are Your Legislative Priorities? Tell Us Through This Survey
AGC members are invited to complete a survey that will help the AGC Government Affairs Council and legislative staff prepare for the 2009 Legislature.
One of the key initiatives of the AGC Legislative Office is to improve communication with and enhance the participation of members in developing ...
Posted on: 09/04/2008
What Are Your Legislative Priorities? Tell Us Through This Survey
AGC members are invited to complete a survey that will help the AGC Government Affairs Council and legislative staff prepare for the 2009 Legislature.
One of the key initiatives of the AGC Legislative Office is to improve communication with and enhance the participation of members in developing ...
Posted on: 08/26/2008
Federal Highway Trust Fund Continues to Face Insolvency
Efforts to keep the federal Highway Trust Fund solvent were again defeated in the U.S. Senate recently. Absent the fix the trust fund is projected to have a $3.1 billion shortfall in FY 2009. If that huge deficit were offset by obligation limitation reductions it would require reducing the dist...
Posted on: 08/20/2008
AGC-Backed Law Levels Workers' Comp Playing Field
The Governor signed AGC-supported legislation passed by the Legislature that would address the double workers comp premium payments that Washington State contractors often make when sending employees to work on out-of-state construction projects. The Department of Labor and Industries has develo...