While the American economy has shown brief signs of recovery, the reality is it has remained remarkably stagnant for most of the past three years. According to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment has averaged 9.4 percent nationally since the now infamous American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law—a far cry from the picture President Obama painted at his inauguration three years ago. To make matters worse, Washington is arguably more politically divided than at any time in the nation’s history.
During the past few years, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law; contentious spending and debt ceiling debates dominated the airwaves; and, according to the Obama administration’s 2011 Unified Agenda, more than 2,700 new regulations were proposed or finalized, with 144 of those expected to cost businesses and taxpayers at least $100 million. Make no mistake, proponents of big government are making it increasingly more difficult for businesses to create jobs and grow the worst economy since the Great Depression.
Earlier this month, President Obama went against decades of precedent and established legal interpretations to force through four recess appointments to the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the politically motivated
National Labor Relations Board. With many groups suggesting the president’s actions violate the Constitution, a legal challenge of these recess appointments is almost certain.
Ending This Reckless Behavior
In November, all 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 33 U.S. senators and President Obama are up for election. While maintaining a pro-business majority in the House is essential, all eyes will be on the Senate and White House. Ten Senate races from Massachusetts to Hawaii are considered competitive; those races ultimately will determine control of the Senate.
Associated Builders and Contractors’ (
ABC) political arm,
ABC PAC, raised more than $700,000 and contributed more than $600,000 to 176 pro-business candidates in 2011. However, the work is far from over. ABC set a fundraising goal of $1.5 million for 2012, which would surpass the $2.1 million record set in the 2007-2008 presidential election cycle.
In addition, ABC’s Free Enterprise Alliance advocates for small businesses, as well as open and fair competition, through research, outreach, and national TV, radio and online campaigns. Last year, the Free Enterprise Alliance launched a new website,
FreeEnterpriseAlliance.org, to educate ABC members, their employees and the public on free enterprise and limited government via articles, books and videos. The website demonstrates that meeting the needs of others through the voluntary exchange of goods and services in a free enterprise economy has allowed Americans to prosper.
Talking about basic economics can feel a lot like talking about politics, especially given the hyper-partisan political environment in Washington today. The fact of the matter is the free enterprise system is under attack. Regardless of political affiliation, everyone needs to know protecting this system ultimately means more jobs, income and wealth for more people. This isn’t a Democrat or Republican principle—it’s an American one.
Following are a few things construction industry members and the general public can do to prepare for one of the most important elections in American history:
Much is at stake this November and it is going to require complete political engagement from ABC members and their employees to ensure candidates that support free enterprise and open competition are sent to Washington next year.