2011 June | The Truth About PLAs

Monthly Archives: June 2011

Breaking: Michigan and Maine Legislatures Pass PLA Bans

June 29, 2011 – 4:15 pm

Today is a huge day for those who think free enterprise and open competition should determine how taxpayer-funded construction contracts are awarded in America. Lawmakers in Maine and Michigan passed bills that ban government-mandated PLAs on state funded construction. Once they are signed into law, they will ensure that taxpayers get the best construction at the [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ABC Michigan, Legislation, Maine, Michigan, PLA Ban, PLAs, PLAs are political payoffs to union leaders, President Obama, State Legislation, Union-only PLAs harm local workers | Comments (2)

Phase 2 Silver Line Dispute Grabs Headlines; Opposition to Project Labor Agreement Grows

June 29, 2011 – 11:42 am

Opposition continues to mount against the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority’s (MWAA) April 6 resolution mandating a union-favoring project labor agreement (PLA) that contractors are required to agree to in order to win construction contracts on the $3.5 billion Phase 2 Dulles Metro Rail Silver Line project in Northern Virginia. (See previous blog posts from TheTruthAboutPLAs.com [...]

By Ben Brubeck | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ABC Virginia, Barbara Comstock, Dennis Martire, Editorial, Fairfax County, Fairfax Times, GAO, Herndon Mayor Steve DeBenedittis, Jack Potter, Jim Lemunyon, Ken Cuccinelli, LIUNA, Loudoun County, Metro Washington Airport Authority, MWAA, Open Competition, PLAs, PLAs are political payoffs to union leaders, PLAs Cut Competition, PLAs Discriminate, PLAs Increase Costs, Project Labor Agreements, Ray LaHood, Silver Line, The Politics of PLAs, Thomas Greason, Tim Hugo, Union-only PLAs harm local workers, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Washington DC, Washington Examiner, Washington Post, Washington Times, WMAL 630, Women and Construction Owners and Executives | Comments (2)

Louisiana Bans Government-Mandated PLAs on State Funded Projects

June 28, 2011 – 9:59 am

The wave continues! With Gov. Bobby Jindal’s signature yesterday of S.B. 76, Louisiana is now the fifth state to ban government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) to some degree in 2011 and the ninth state to do so nationwide. This is a huge development for taxpayers in Louisiana. This bill guarantees that free enterprise – not Big Labor [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Executive Order 13502, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, PLA Ban, PLAs, PLAs are political payoffs to union leaders, PLAs Cut Competition, PLAs Increase Costs, President Obama, Project Labor Agreements, Right to Work, State Legislation, Union-only PLAs harm local workers | Comments (1)

One is the Loneliest Number for a Michigan Congressman

June 27, 2011 – 9:22 am

One is the loneliest number for Michigan Congressman Thad McCotter (R), who last week gained the distinction of being the only Republican in the U.S. House or the Michigan Senate to vote in favor of wasteful and discriminatory government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on public construction. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy covered this issue [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Brett McMahon, Executive Order 13502, Federal Construction, Mackinac Center, Michigan, Open Competition, PLAs, PLAs are political payoffs to union leaders, PLAs Cut Competition, PLAs Discriminate, PLAs Increase Costs, Project Labor Agreements, Radio Interview, Union-only PLAs harm local workers | Comments (0)

State Lawmakers Show U.S. House the Way Forward

June 22, 2011 – 12:34 pm

Despite a setback at the federal level, the drive for taxpayer value on public construction continued at the state level last week with several key states taking important actions. First, the Louisiana Legislature approved legislation that would ban government-mandated PLAs on all state and local construction in the state. This bill, S.B. 76, received bi-partisan [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ABC Michigan, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Open Competition, PLAs, PLAs are political payoffs to union leaders, PLAs Cut Competition, PLAs Discriminate, PLAs Increase Costs, Project Labor Agreements, State Legislation, The Politics of PLAs | Comments (0)

Diverse Coalition of Construction Industry Associations and Employer Groups Oppose Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements

June 14, 2011 – 12:14 pm

A diverse coalition of construction industry associations and employer groups oppose government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) and anti-competitive PLA preferences used by federal agencies as a result of President Obama’s pro-PLA Executive Order 13502 and related regulations. During the 112th Congress, these groups have sent numerous coalition letters to the House and Senate in support of legislation [...]

By Ben Brubeck | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged abc, AGC, American Council of Engineering Companies, Associated Builders and Contractors, Construction Industry Round Table, Electrical, Electronic Security Association, H.R. 735, Hearing, House PLA Votes, Merit Elevator Contractors Association of America, National Association of Government Contractors (NAGC), National Association of Minority Contractors, National Association of Women in Construction, National Black Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Business, National Ready-Mixed Concrete Association, National Stone, NUCA Representing Utility and Excavation Contractors, S. 119, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, The Government Neutrality in Contracting Act, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. House Hearing, Women Construction Owners and Executives | Comments (0)

House to Vote on Critical Amendment Promoting Project Labor Agreements Today. Oppose LaTourette Amendment Striking Section 415 of H.R. 2055.

June 13, 2011 – 7:51 am

Today the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the Military Construction (MilCon) and Veterans Affairs (VA) and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2012 (H.R. 2055). Section 415 of H.R. 2055 ensures fair and open competition on federal construction contracts funded by this legislation. Specifically, it will prevent federal agencies from requiring contractors to sign [...]

By Ben Brubeck | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Appropriations, Executive Order 13502, Federal Construction, Federal Contracting, Federal Legislation, H.R. 2055, House PLA Votes, Legislation, PLAs, PLAs are political payoffs to union leaders, President Obama, Project Labor Agreements, Rep. Flake, Rep. Guinta, Rep. LaTourette, Section 415, Take Action, US Army Corps of Engineers, Veterans Administration | Comments (3)

Voters in City of Sacramento and County of Sacramento Asked to Ensure Fair and Open Competition for Construction Contracts

June 10, 2011 – 10:28 am

On Thursday, June 9, a group of local contractors, construction workers, business associations, and taxpayer advocates held a press conference announcing the launch of an audacious campaign to win voter approval of two ballot measures that would ensure fair and open competition for taxpayer-funded construction contracts in the City of Sacramento and in the County [...]

By Kevin Dayton | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ABC California, Ballot Initiative, California, Greenmail, Kevin Dayton, local legislation, Open Competition, PLAs, PLAs Increase Costs, Sacramento | Comments (0)

Merit Shop Advocates Prepare to Open a New Front in the Fight Against PLAs in California

June 9, 2011 – 9:47 am

Merit shop advocates in California are taking the fight against wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreements (PLAs) to northern California. This campaign will make the City of Sacramento and Sacramento County the 8th and 9th local government entities in California to ban government-mandated PLAs. Here is a press release from the Coalition for Fair Employment [...]

By Andy Conlin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ABC California, Ballot Initiative, California, Chula Vista, Kevin Dayton, PLAs are political payoffs to union leaders, PLAs Cut Competition, PLAs Discriminate, PLAs Increase Costs, Sacramento, San Diego, Union-only PLAs harm local workers | Comments (2)

ABC Members Testify in Support of Legislation Restoring Fairness in Federal Contracting

June 7, 2011 – 11:32 am

On June 3, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform Subcommittee held a hearing, “H.R. 735 and Project Labor Agreements: Restoring Competition and Neutrality to Government Construction Projects.” The subcommittee, chaired by Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.), heard testimony about the negative impact of President Obama’s controversial Executive Order 13502 [...]

By Ben Brubeck | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged AGC, Beacon Hill Institute, Daniel Gordon, David G. Tuerck, Executive Order 13502, Federal Construction, Federal Contracting, GSA, Hearing, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform Subcommittee, Kirby Wu, Massachusetts, Maury Baskin, Mike Kennedy, New Jersey, OMB, PLAs, President Obama, Project Labor Agreements, Rep. James Lankford, Rep. Mike Kelly, Rep. Tim Walberg, Sullivan, Susan Brita, Technology, The Government Neutrality in Contracting Act, U.S. House Hearing, Wall Street Journal, Washington DC | Comments (0)