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AGC Board votes to oppose Initiative 976

AGC’s Board of Trustees voted Monday to oppose Initiative 976, which would eliminate billions in transportation spending. AGC’s’ Government Affairs Committee had previously met to discuss the initiative and to make an “oppose” recommendation to the Board.
Posted on: 09/10/2019

Recap of $1B+ in new taxes passed by the Legislature

During this year’s legislative session, the Washington State Legislature passed several tax bills that will increase total revenues by $1.1 billion.
Posted on: 06/18/2019

Capital budget: Nearly $5 billion for schools, universities, cleanups and housing

The Legislature passed a $4.9-billion 2019-2021 capital budget shortly before adjournment of the Legislature. The total includes $3.2 billion from proceeds of state general-obligation bonds. This is a significant increase over the previous biennial capital budget, which totaled $4.4 billion.
Posted on: 04/30/2019

Operating budget: New taxes, big spending

A billion dollars in new taxes and an 18 percent increase in spending are highlights of the state biennial budget passed by the Legislature Sunday night, just 15 minutes before a midnight deadline to adjourn.
Posted on: 04/30/2019

Contact your State House & Senate members NOW to urge them to OPPOSE the billion-dollar tax increase!

We are very concerned that this budget will include at least some of the tax proposals that have been under consideration.
Posted on: 04/25/2019

Proposed state budgets feature capital gains, B&O and REET taxes

Democratic leaders in the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives have proposed differing biennial budgets for 2019-2021, but they do have two things in common: They are both way bigger than the previous state budget, and they both feature tax increases.
Posted on: 04/09/2019

State House passes $10 billion transportation biennial budget

The State House of Representatives has passed its version of the 2019-21 biennial transportation budget, with total funding of $10 billion, up about $600 million from the previous budget. The Senate version is similar and awaits action on the Senate floor.
Posted on: 04/08/2019

House passes $4.6-billion capital budget giving boost to K-12, higher ed construction

The state construction budget, and accompanying bond bill, passed the House of Representatives last week. The $4.6 billion capital budget, prime sponsored by House Capital Budget Committee Chair Steve Tharinger (D-Port Townsend) invests heavily in public schools and colleges, mental health and environmental projects.
Posted on: 04/08/2019

Contact your State House members NOW and urge them to oppose the billion-dollar tax package!

Contact State House members NOW and urge them to oppose this billion-dollar tax package.
Posted on: 03/29/2019

Proposed state budget includes capital gains, B&O and REET tax increases

House Democrats unveiled a two-year state budget proposal that seeks $1.4B in new revenue, including a new 9.9% capital gains tax, a 20% (and up) B&O tax increase for many businesses, and an increase in the real estate excise tax (REET).
Posted on: 03/26/2019

Ill-conceived contractor-liability bill dies in Legislature

The number of anti-business bills introduced in Olympia this year has been unprecedented. But thanks to a worthy effort from AGC and its members, general contractors and subcontractors alike will not be as easy targets in years to come for double-payment liability on private projects.
Posted on: 03/26/2019

$15-B transportation package passes Senate Committee

Forward Washington — a comprehensive 10-year transportation and environmental plan to invest in infrastructure and green technology projects throughout the state — was passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee March 6.
Posted on: 03/12/2019

Governor proposes 9-percent capital-gains tax

Governor Jay Inslee has proposed a new capital-gains tax to help fund his proposed 2019–21 operating budget that would increase spending by $9.973 billion (22.3 percent).
Posted on: 01/14/2019

Governor announces plan for ultra-efficient buildings

Gov. Jay Inslee recently unveiled a plan that he hopes would launch a dramatic reduction of Washington state’s greenhouse gas emissions over the next 15 years.
Posted on: 01/14/2019

Don’t be caught unaware! Plan NOW for family leave premium collections to begin Jan. 1

On Jan. 1, 2019, employers need to begin collecting paid family and medical leave premiums; budget for the employer share of the premium; and begin tracking hours and wages of all employees, including seasonal, temporary and part-time workers.
Posted on: 11/19/2018

AGC opposes PSCAA fuel proposal

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is considering a regional low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS), and AGC is opposed. AGC is joining a coalition of business, agriculture and labor groups in requesting that PSCAA drop its proposal.
Posted on: 11/06/2018

Are you and your employees ready for new family taxes in 2019?

With the passage last year of a paid family- and medical-leave program for Washington State, new taxes will be collected on BOTH employers and employees starting Jan. 1, 2019.
Posted on: 09/20/2018

AGC opposes carbon-tax plan

AGC’s Board of Trustees voted to oppose Initiative 1631, which would enact a new carbon tax. Proponents are currently gathering signatures in hopes of getting the measure on the November ballot.
Posted on: 06/04/2018

AGC protests Seattle’s head tax proposal

Telling the Seattle City Council and Mayor Jenny Durkan that hurting construction jobs is not the way to combat homelessness, AGC is strongly opposed to the city’s proposed $500 per employee “head tax” – a controversial measure that caused Amazon to pause its ongoing construction in Seattle.
Posted on: 05/08/2018

Comments to share about the steel, aluminum tariffs?

On March 19, the Department of Commerce published its exclusion process procedures (interim final rule) for steel and aluminum tariffs...
Posted on: 03/28/2018

Legislative session recap: Billions in construction spending; no new taxes

The 2018 Legislative session ended right on time last week – the first time since 2014 that a special session wasn’t required.
Posted on: 03/12/2018

B&O, capital gains tax bills back on the table in Olympia

Two new bills involving capital gains and B&O taxes were introduced relatively late in the legislative session. Both are opposed by AGC.
Posted on: 02/12/2018

New in 2018: Pay-per-mile pilot study

After several years of study, the Washington State Transportation Commission will test a pay-per-mile tax system called a road usage charge beginning in early 2018. A road usage charge asks drivers to pay for the miles they drive in Washington, rather than by the gallons of gas they use.
Posted on: 12/14/2017

AGC of America: Tax-reform plan improved but more help for pass-through entities needed

The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued this statement in connection with the Senate tax-reform measure.
Posted on: 12/04/2017

Contact your legislators today and urge them to pass the Capital Budget now!

The State Legislature has passed the operating budget -- but not the capital budget, which funds a multitude of construction projects.
Posted on: 07/14/2017