News for Legislation
Private Funding of Wastewater Infrastructure Would Spur Development
In order to spur private development within urban growth areas set by the state’s Growth Management Act AGC is supporting legislation that allows private entities to fund wastewater infrastructure.
Craig Goodwin General Manager for Northwest Cascade Inc. joined AGC’s Director of Government Affai...
Posted on: 02/15/2011
False Claims Bill Would Compound Mike M. Johnson Problems
By Douglas Roach Ahlers & Cressman PLLC
(Editor’s Note: Roach and fellow AGC Legal Affairs Committee member John Ahlers have been active in proposing language to address the problems with Senate Bill 5310. Roach and AGC’s Legislative Counsel Van Collins testified during a Feb. 4 Senate Judi...
Posted on: 02/15/2011
AGC Seeks to Preserve Contractors' Lien Rights Endangered by Williams Case
By John Riper Ashbaugh Beal LLP
(Editor’s Note: John Riper and AGC’s Government Affairs Director Rick Slunaker testified during a Feb. 2 House Labor and Workforce Development Committee hearing in strong support of House Bill 1708. Watch their testimony via embedded link at end of this article.)...
Posted on: 02/15/2011
AGC Fights to Restore Public Works Trust Fund
“As the construction industry goes so goes our state budget.”
That sentence was delivered by Gov. Gregoire during the State of the State address. She added: “Jobs are the way out of the recession especially in one of the hardest hit areas — the construction sector. Through the capital and trans...
Posted on: 02/15/2011
AGC Legislative Snapshot for Feb. 14
Help Us Help You: Be Involved
Call: Mondays at 7:15 a.m. call into the weekly “Legislative Huddle.” This call is used to gather member feedback on legislative proposals that impact construction and to give us direction on positions AGC should take on specific legislation coming at us. To sign-...
Posted on: 02/14/2011
Legislation Would Alter Design-Build Threshold for WSDOT Projects
AGC secured changes to legislation that modifies provisions relating to design-build procedures for WSDOT projects. The legislation (Senate Bill 5250) establishes a $1 million project cost threshold over which WSDOT may consider using DB (the original bill had no minimum threshold). The legisla...
Posted on: 02/01/2011
Positive Workers' Comp and Unemployment Insurance News from Olympia (Really!)
by David DHondt AGC Executive Vice President
After years of urging state leaders to address the state’s burdensome workers’ comp and unemployment systems the construction industry received some welcome positive news from Olympia this week. On Tuesday the Governor announced policy changes that i...
Posted on: 01/07/2011
AGC Calls for Reform to Combat 20+ Percent Workers' Comp Increases
AGC members and staff strenuously protested the workers’ compensation premium increases of 23-41 percent for the construction industry in 2011 during a public comment period that ended today. In addition to making the case that dramatic increases will be one more drag on the industry that has yet...
Posted on: 01/04/2011
AGC Calls for Legislative Reform to Combat Workers' Comp Increases
AGC members and staff strenuously protested the workers’ compensation premium increases of 23-41 percent for the construction industry in 2011 during a public comment period that ended today. L&I recently announced an average increase for all businesses of 12 percent but the actual increase ...
Posted on: 01/04/2011
Impact Claim Award Undone by Claim Waiver
By Jonathan Gabelein Construction Consultant Ashbaugh Beal
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently vacated a contractor’s impact and delay award of over $4000000 because of waiver language in a signed change order. The case Bell BCI Co. v. United States arose from the construction ...
Posted on: 01/04/2011
2011 Legislative Priorities Set by AGC Board
AGC’s Board of Trustees approved the association’s priorities for the upcoming session of the State Legislature. Click 2011 Legislative Priorities to review topics including workers’ comp reform infrastructure investment streamlined permitting and more. For more info contact AGC Government Affair...
Posted on: 11/30/2010
Reminders of Ways to be Involved in AGC Legislative Efforts
AGC’s Monday Morning Huddles begin Jan. 10. The weekly 7:15-8 a.m. telecons will keep you up-to-date on the latest happenings in Olympia…Mark your calendars for AGC Lobby Day in Olympia Feb. 9 to include a briefing from AGC staff and opportunities to meet Legislators…Sign up for AGC’s Action Aler...
Posted on: 11/16/2010
Less Than Meets the Eye: Initiative 1098
“Cuts state property taxes BY 20%” touts the ad promoting I-1098 the income tax initiative. Quick grab the calculator: A 20 percent cut of a say $6000 property tax bill is $1200…that’s great!
But hold on. One of the biggest misperceptions of the initiative is that in addition to imposing the ...
Posted on: 10/04/2010
AGC's Board Tackles Two Economic Issues: I-1082 and I-1098
By Tom Zamzow AGC President
Last week AGC’s Board of Trustees considered two initiatives that will be on the November ballot both of which could have big implications for contractors. The Board voted to remain neutral on I-1082 regarding workers’ comp and to oppose I-1098 the income tax initiat...
Posted on: 09/21/2010
Summary of I-1098, Income Tax Initiative
Bill Gates Sr. and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are among the major backers of Initiative 1098 a measure on this year’s ballot that will be the first time since 1973 that voters will be asked to establish a state income tax.
On the ballot information about I-1098 will read as...
Posted on: 09/21/2010
AGC Board Meeting to Discuss I-1082
At its Sept. 13 meeting AGC’s Board will discuss the pro’s and con’s of Initiative 1082 (workers’ comp). After discussion the Board will decide whether or not to take a position on the initiative. The Board has received a recommendation of “support” from the AGC Government Affairs Council and a ...
Posted on: 09/08/2010
Support Repeal of New Form 1099 Reporting Requirement
A provision in the massive healthcare bill enacted in March requires businesses to send Form 1099s for all business-to-business transactions equaling $600 or more in a year. The new requirement will be a tremendous burden on businesses increasing their paperwork and compliance costs. AGC of Ame...
Posted on: 08/24/2010
AGC Names Rep. Judy Clibborn Legislator of the Year
AGC of Washington has named State Representative Judy Clibborn (D-41 Mercer Island) as Legislator of the Year for 2010. Rep. Clibborn serving her 4th term in the House of Representatives chairs the House Transportation Committee. Her experience includes service as Executive Director of the Mercer...
Posted on: 08/10/2010
Board Meeting to Discuss I-1082
AGC members are invited to attend a Special Board of Trustees’ meeting on Aug. 3 2-4 pm AGC Building 2nd floor conference center 1200 Westlake Ave. N. Seattle to participate in discussions regarding the pro’s and con’s of Initiative 1082 (workers’ comp). After reviewing and hearing discussion on...
Posted on: 07/27/2010
Is Card Check Legislation Back from the Grave?
So-called card check legislation which would take away workers’ right to a secret ballot regarding unionization was thought to be dead. However a strategy may be in the works to pass it during a lame-duck congressional session. According to a Wall Street Journal opinion piece “Party leaders are...
Posted on: 07/13/2010
New Safety Bill Expected Before Congress Soon
Recently a discussion draft of a new bill that seeks to make changes to both MSHA and OSHA was introduced in Congress. While AGC of America is still reviewing the 100-page document the bill focuses mainly on changes to MSHA with elements of the OSHA-focused Protecting America’s Workers Act (PAWA)...
Posted on: 07/13/2010
Problematic Off-Site/Prefab Law Could Catch Unwary Contractors
Unwary contractors could be deemed “non-responsible” and barred from all public works contracting for repeated violations of a new law regarding the purchase of “off-site prefabricated non-standard project specific items” from out-of-state vendors or manufacturers.
Over the past three legislativ...
Posted on: 06/15/2010
Paving Contractors Push Congress for Long-Term Highway Bill
A delegation of Washington State contractors travelled to Washington DC last week to participate in a national “fly-in” to push Congress to among other things pass long-term reauthorization of the federal highway bill.
Mike and Tim Lee and George Peabody of Lakeside Industries joined Pamp Maiers...
Posted on: 06/02/2010
Climate Change Bill Would Siphon Transportation Dollars…
AGC of America says the Senate climate change bill neglects efforts to cut traffic congestion and breaks a decades-long promise that transportation user fees will be dedicated to financing highway and transit improvements. AGC and transportation partners sent a letter to Senators Kerry and Lieber...
Posted on: 05/25/2010
…Meanwhile, EPA Seeks to Regulate CO2 Via Clean Air Act
While Congress continues to debate legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (e.g. carbon dioxide) that may cause climate change the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pushing forward with its own regulations under the Clean Air Act to pressure Congress to act. Senator Murkowski h...