State Executive Order

2021 Update: Courts Rule in Favor of #NoPLA Laws Promoting Fair and Open Competition

0 February 17, 2021  Featured, Federal Construction, State & Local Construction

Numerous courts continue to uphold pro-taxpayer federal and state laws and/or executive orders prohibiting anti-competitive and costly government-mandated project labor agreements. Advocates of government-mandated PLA schemes have been unsuccessful in challenging such laws in the courts. As discussed in this February 4, 2021, letter to the Biden administration, ABC supports fair and open competition laws […]

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2020 Update: ABC’s Fight Against Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements

0 September 22, 2020  Federal Construction, Open Competition Works, State & Local Construction

In February 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13502, which encourages federal agencies to mandate project labor agreements on large-scale federal construction projects exceeding $25 million in total cost on a case-by-case basis and permits recipients of federal assistance to mandate PLAs on state and local public works projects. Many merit shop advocates and public policy professionals predicted […]

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24 States Ensure Fair and Open Competition, Restrict Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements

2 July 2, 2018  Federal Construction, Open Competition Works, State & Local Construction

On Feb. 6, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13502, which encourages federal agencies to mandate controversial project labor agreements (PLAs) on large-scale federal construction projects—those exceeding $25 million in total value—on a case-by-case basis, and permits states and localities to mandate PLAs on federally assisted projects. Since President Obama issued Executive Order 13502, 23 […]

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Iowa Law Restricts Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements, Protects Hawkeye State Construction Industry

1 April 16, 2017  Federal Construction, State & Local Construction

On April 13, Gov. Terry Branstad (R-Iowa) signed SF 438 into law, which promotes fair and open competition on contracts for construction services funded by Iowa taxpayers. The measure will ensure that the government cannot mandate controversial project labor agreements (PLAs) on state, state-assisted and local construction projects, guaranteeing that the 85 percent of Iowa’s […]

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Courts Rule in Favor of #NoPLA Laws Promoting Fair and Open Competition

2 January 10, 2017  Featured, Federal Construction, State & Local Construction

Proponents of government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) have unsuccessfully challenged federal and state laws and executive orders that prevent lawmakers and agencies from imposing anti-competitive and costly union-favoring PLA requirements on taxpayer-funded construction projects. When mandated by government entities, PLAs have a dismal track record of increasing costs, reducing competition, and discriminating against experienced construction companies […]

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Victory in Idaho: Appeals Court Upholds Idaho Law Protecting Fair and Open Competition on Public Construction Projects

0 September 18, 2015  Featured, Open Competition Works, State & Local Construction

Big news out of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit: Idaho’s law restricting state agencies or political subdivisions from requiring contractors to enter into project labor agreements (PLAs) as a condition of performing public work stands. There are no legal challenges against any of the enacted 23 state anti-PLA mandate laws or executive […]

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Arkansas Adopts Bipartisan PLA Reform Legislation

0 March 24, 2015  Featured, State & Local Construction

Gov. Asa Hutchison is the 18th governor since January 2011 to sign legislation or an executive order banning wasteful and discriminatory project labor agreement (PLA) mandates on taxpayer-funded construction projects. Arkansas is one of 21 states in total that limit the ability of public entities to require contractors to enter into a PLA as a […]

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Gov. O’Malley Issues Executive Order Encouraging the Use of Apprenticeship Programs and Local Hiring Plans in Maryland Public Contracting

0 September 26, 2013  Featured, State & Local Construction

On Monday, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) issued an executive order that changes how state government procures taxpayer-funded construction contracts. According to an O’Malley administration press release, Executive Order 01.01.2013.05 (pdf) issued Sept. 23, 2013, directs entities “under the control of the governor” that procure contracts for construction services to adopt new procurement guidelines:  “The procurement […]

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The Top 10 Stories of 2012

0 January 16, 2013  Federal Construction, State & Local Construction

Happy New Year from TheTruthAboutPLAs.com In 2012, construction industry advocates of fair and open competition in public contracting defied a difficult political environment and economy to create more opportunities for qualified merit shop contractors and their skilled employees. President Obama’s Feb. 6, 2009, Executive Order 13502 encouraging federal agencies to mandate project labor agreements (PLAs) […]

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The Merit Shop Goes to Washington

1 July 9, 2012  Federal Construction

Members of the merit shop contracting community, welcome to Washington, DC, and ABC’s 2012 Legislative Conference. If you are here, you already understand the importance’s of ABC’s motto, “Get Into Politics or Get Out of Business!” As construction industry leaders, you will be talking with your peers and lawmakers on Capitol Hill about the negative […]

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