AGC PAC fundraising efforts kicked into high gear at the AGC Annual Convention this week in Las Vegas, Nev., where AGC PAC surpassed its projected goal of $250,000.  At the time of this writing, AGC PAC had raised more than $310,000.  Check back next week for the official Convention total.

On March 5, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a hearing on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proposed rule on representation-case procedures, also known as the “ambush election” rule. The hearing “Culture of Union Favoritism: The Return of the NLRB’s Ambush Election Rule” highlighted how the rule would undermine long-standing rights of workers, employers, and unions. 

The president’s FY 2015 budget contains information on the administration’s enforcement and employment initiatives. Ultimately, the budget is subject to congressional approval – where it faces considerable opposition – but it shows the administration’s priorities and illustrates how employers should prepare for greater enforcement and regulatory activity in the coming years. The Department of Labor’s (DOL) budget provides for $11.8 billion in discretionary funding, with much of it focused on the enforcement of employment laws.

As part of the administration’s FY 2015 Budget Request to Congress, the Department of the Treasury released the General Explanations of the administration’s FY 2015 Revenue Proposals, or “Greenbook.”  President Obama’s budget maintains a focus on taxing the high-income earners, multinational companies, as well as the oil and gas industry. The budget would alter a number of tax provisions pertinent to the construction industry, including:

On March 4, President Obama released a framework for his $3.9 trillion budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2015, while more detailed budget documents are expected to be released next week.  The budget, which is $56 billion above the $1.014 trillion limit on discretionary spending established as part of December’s bipartisan budget deal, projects a budget deficit of $564 billion for 2015.  House and Senate Republicans have come out against the budget, proposing the breaking of budget caps and payment for the increase in spending by proposing tax policies that have been panned by business groups in the past, including: increasing the burden of the estate tax; retaining high rates on pass-through businesses; and taxing carried interest at ordinary income rates.

AGC joined 54 trades associations in a letter to the Department of Labor (DOL) on the proposed “persuader” rulemaking from the Office of Labor-Management Standards that would broaden reporting requirements of labor relations consultants (including attorneys and associations) who conduct activities to persuade employees concerning their rights to organize or bargain collectively and of the employers who receive assistance from such consultants. The proposed rule would have a damaging impact on the construction industry due to various unique features of labor relations and labor law in the industry and due to the rule's inclusion of association-provided advice and education as "persuader" activity.

Take Action: Visit AGC’s Legislative Action Center to Submit Your Comments Today On Sept. 12, 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a proposed new rule on silica exposure. AGC members, chapters and interested stakeholders are encouraged to submit comment letters opposing the proposed new rule on silica exposure through the AGC Legislative Action Center (LAC). A sample, editable letter has been provided for your convenience and can be customized to your respective operations. Click here to access the letter. All comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) Feb. 11, 2014.

This week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its annual Economic and Budget Outlook.  CBO included an update to its biannual projections of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) cash flow in the report.  The report confirms previous speculation that the HTF will run out of cash on a day-to-day basis before the expiration of MAP-21 on Sept. 30, 2014.  CBO estimates that only the Transit Account of the HTF will be able to meet all obligations during fiscal year 2014.

Take Action: Encourage Your Elected Officials to Support the Save American Workers Act On Feb. 4, the House Ways and Means Committee passed H.R. 2575, the Save American Workers Act. The act would repeal the 30-hour definition of "full-time employment" in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by replacing it with the more traditional 40-hour definition. AGC is encouraging Congress to pass H.R. 2575 and urges members to use the Legislative Action Center to send a letter of support to their elected officials in support of the legislation.

On Thursday, the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) will become the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Leader Reid’s action means no votes are needed from the party's caucus or steering committee. Wyden following Baucus in the chairman's role will make a spot on the committee available, with Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) expected to fill the vacancy. Wyden is the second Oregonian to serve as chairman, after Bob Packwood (R) in 1995.