A letter signed by more than 60 House Democrats was sent to President Obama today, urging him to sign a draft Executive Order (EO) that would require companies bidding on government contracts to disclose political contributions made within the past two years by their officers and directors to federal candidates and parties.  The draft EO, which was leaked in April 2011, is seen by supporters as an effort to increase transparency in federal government contracting in an effort to halt pay-to-play contracting. 

The House of Representatives will vote this evening on Speaker John Boehner’s deficit reduction plan, the Budget Control Act of 2010.  It is anticipated that most House Republicans will vote for the Speaker’s bill (although passage is not certain), even though it is still unclear how the debt-ceiling game will play out.

Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) have introduced AGC supported legislation today to create a tax credit bond program dedicated to transportation infrastructure. Transportation and Regional Infrastructure Project bonds or TRIPs will be a financing tool to fund the transportation projects throughout the country.

On Tuesday, AGC sent letters to the House and Senate urging passage of a multi-year aviation authorization bill to avoid further disruption to a construction industry that is already reeling from a steady decline in market opportunities which has resulted in the loss of 2.2 million construction jobs. The effort was made necessary after Congress failed to pass a short term extension of authorization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). FAA authorization expired on September 30, 2007, and Congress has passed 20 short term extensions of authorization to keep the agency and its programs operating.

Momentum continues to build in Congress to repeal the 3 percent withholding tax. AGC members and the construction industry have been at the forefront of the repeal campaign. In the last several weeks, AGC has sent out individualized state-by-state updates to our members, and as a result, the House has 213 cosponsors and the Senate is at 29 cosponsors.  If you want your state’s list please email youngj@agc.org.

Gang of Six in the Senate Releases Proposal The White House and Congressional leaders continue to suffer through a stalemate in their negotiations to reach a compromise deal on a deficit reduction plan as it relates to increases in our nation’s debt limit.  According to the Treasury Department, we must raise the debt limit by August 2 or face defaulting on our obligations for the first time in our country’s history.  On the August 3 the Treasury will not have enough money coming in to cover scheduled payments.

In addition to major cuts written about last week in funding for wastewater and drinking water construction, the emotional cry to cut spending continues to result in slashed federal construction programs .Significant cuts are in store for the construction programs of the General Services Administration, Military Construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Senate and White House Opposition Could lead to Shutdown of FAA Amid opposition from the White House and the Senate, the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 243-177, the 21st extension of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding and tax extension bill, which would authorize funding for FAA through September 16.  Unlike previous extensions, this bill is not a “clean” extension; meaning it includes policy changes to current law.  The policy change in question would remove 13 of the 103 airports currently receiving Essential Air Service subsidies from the program, which would likely cause  those airports lose all scheduled air service.

Momentum continues to build in Congress to repeal the 3 percent withholding tax. AGC members and the construction industry have been at the forefront of the repeal campaign. In the last several weeks, AGC has sent out individualized state-by-state updates to our members, and as a result, the House has 208 cosponsors and the Senate is at 28 cosponsors.  If you want your state’s list please email youngj@agc.org.

Momentum continues to build in Congress to repeal the 3 percent withholding tax. AGC members and the construction industry have been at the forefront of the repeal campaign. In the last several weeks, AGC has sent out individualized state-by-state updates to our members, and as a result, the House is up to 198 cosponsors and the Senate is at 28 cosponsors.