Hundreds of contractors from across the nation will come to Washington, D.C., June 23–25 as part of Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) 2009 Legislative Conference. This annual trip to Washington, D.C., is not unlike those made by many other trade and advocacy groups; however, the importance of employers and industry leaders advocating their interests on Capitol Hill should not be discounted.
Business leaders serve as a vital source of information and counsel for legislators. In fact, legislators often look to construction executives as expert sources on how proposed legislation and regulations would affect their businesses and their employees. Developing a genuine rapport with legislators and their staffs can be an invaluable resource to a firm and can be equally beneficial to congressmen and senators, especially when they come to understand that construction businesses help create jobs and build a stronger local economy.
It is also important to note that an effective meeting with an elected representative is not contingent upon supporting the same political party or agreeing on every issue. If representatives or senators develop trust in and respect for a contractor’s views, he will become a valuable resource to them on all construction and business-related issues.
The current economy and the changing political landscape make it even more vital for legislators to understand the challenges contractors face as business owners and private citizens. Early in the 111th Congress, there has been a great deal of discussion and action on issues that could profoundly—and negatively—impact the construction industry. In these challenging times, legislators are especially sensitive to being portrayed as advocating policies that could damage the already fragile economy.
Now is the time for construction executives to voice their concerns about critical pieces of legislation, such as the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), or “card check” legislation.
EFCA, which would eliminate a worker’s right to a secret ballot in union elections and impose binding arbitration on employees and businesses, continues to be the focus of much discussion on Capitol Hill. Small and large business owners alike have made known their staunch opposition to EFCA during the last several years, and in recent months members on both sides of the political aisle have come out against EFCA. This is a prime example of the impact business owners can have when they make their voices heard in Washington, D.C.
In its current form, EFCA is on life support. But so-called “compromise” proposals, many of which are as nefarious and economically disastrous as the original bill, continue to float around Capitol Hill. Senators and House members must come to understand why the alternatives to EFCA are nothing more than “card check in disguise.”
In addition, issues like health care reform, energy policy, the expiration of the Bush administration’s tax cuts and comprehensive immigration reform are likely to be considered by Congress in the coming weeks and months. What Congress ultimately elects to do (or not do) on these issues will impact contractors’ bottom lines and the way in which they conduct business.
Running a construction business in this economy requires constant attention to finding and bidding on available work, and in many cases the last thing on a contractor’s agenda is to make a trip to Washington, D.C. However, remember the words of former ABC National Chairman Joe M. Rodgers: “Get into politics, or get out of business!” In many ways, those words have never rung more true than they do today.
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Friday, September 3, 2010