Op-Ed

WSJ Op-Ed: The Truth About President Biden’s Pro-Project Labor Agreement Executive Order

0 February 9, 2022  Federal Construction

The WSJ published this op-ed Feb. 9, exposing the truth about President Biden’s Executive Order 14063, which requires federal construction contracts of $35 million or more to be subjected to controversial government-mandated project labor agreements. This piece is one of many op-eds and editorials opposing government-mandated PLAs published by the WSJ over the years. View […]

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Op-Ed: Build Back Better U.S. Infrastructure with Fair and Open Competition, Free From Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements

0 March 17, 2021  Featured, Federal Construction, Open Competition Works

The Washington Times published this March 16 op-ed expressing concerns about the expansion of government-mandated project labor agreement policy on taxpayer-funded federal and federally assisted construction projects. Build back better U.S. infrastructure with fair and open competition Taxpayers must hold lawmakers accountable for delivering cost-effective infrastructure projects that will last. Americans are in strong bipartisan […]

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Union Leaders and Contractors Oppose Government-mandated Project Labor Agreements Too

0 March 1, 2021  Featured, Federal Construction, Open Competition Works, State & Local Construction

The debate surrounding controversial government-mandated project labor agreements is often framed by the media, elected officials and policy wonks as a dispute pitting construction unions against nonunion contractors in a battle about whether the government should be enacting PLA preference and mandate policies that ultimately steer taxpayer-funded construction contracts to unionized contractors and create jobs […]

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Nevada’s Anti-Free Enterprise Lawmakers Rescind Fair and Open Competition Law

0 May 29, 2019  State & Local Construction

On May 28, 2019, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed a bill (SB 231) that will hurt Nevada’s taxpayers and construction industry by reinstating controversial government-mandated project labor agreements on certain Nevada public works projects. SB 231 repealed a 2015 law (AB 159) passed by the then GOP-controlled legislature and signed by Gov. Sandoval (R). […]

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Op-Ed Offers Solution to Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreement Problem

0 June 27, 2018  Featured, Federal Construction

The Hill published an op-ed by ABC CEO and President Michael Bellaman laying out three key policy recommendations for Congress and the Trump administration to enact in order to continue the construction industry’s positive economic growth (“Time for Cogress to bolster Trump’s roadmap for rebuilding America,” 6/27/18). The op-ed is part of ABC’s one powerful […]

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CNBC Op-Ed: Eliminating Federal Policy Promoting Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements Should Be A Policy Cornerstone of Trump Infrastructure Plan

0 February 1, 2018  Featured, Federal Construction

CNBC published commentary from TheTruthAboutPLAs.com contributor Ben Brubeck, which called for reforms to the federal policy encouraging the use of anti-competitive and costly government-mandated project labor agreements on large-scale federal construction projects (“Five policy cornerstones for Trump’s $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan,” 2/1/18). Check out this passage and the four other recommended policy cornerstones (permitting reform, increase the […]

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WSJ Project Labor Agreement Op-Ed: A Wisconsin Lesson for Trump the Builder

0 April 18, 2017  Featured, Federal Construction, State & Local Construction, Transportation & Infrastructure

The Wall Street Journal editorial and op-ed pages have invested barrels of ink opposing anti-competitive and costly government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs). In numerous instances (see pieces at end of blog post) the WSJ editorial board has derided PLA mandates, calling them “crony contracts,” “a rotten deal for taxpayers,” and worse: “PLAs are a form of political bid-rigging that robs […]

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ABC Virginia President’s Letter Blasts Labor Boss’ Deceptive Pro-Project Labor Agreement Op-Ed

0 May 30, 2016  Featured, State & Local Construction, Transportation & Infrastructure

On May 28, 2016, The Virginia Pilot published a strong #NoPLAs letter to the editor by ABC Virginia President Patrick J. Dean in response to a pro-project labor agreement (PLA) op-ed submitted by Dennis Martire, vice president and Mid-Atlantic regional manager of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA): Letter: Benefits agreements hurt business, taxpayers May […]

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Project Labor Agreement Schemes Debated in Charles County Maryland

0 November 1, 2013  School Construction, State & Local Construction

A battle is brewing between the merit shop contracting community and construction labor unions in Charles County, Maryland, the latest locality in the Mid-Atlantic region to entertain legislation requiring anti-competitive and costly government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on taxpayer-funded construction projects. On Oct.2, the Charles County commissioners invited representatives from construction trade unions and the local […]

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