Newsline

States Push Forward with Prevailing Wage Reform

Lawmakers in a number of states have made reforming outdated prevailing wage laws a major priority so far in 2015. In the past month, legislators in West Virginia, Nevada and Indiana have advanced legislation that attempts to narrow the types of construction projects affected by prevailing wage, and in some cases, to remove the law entirely. 
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Letter Urges a Delay in Expansion of Small Group Market Definition under ACA

In conjunction with 17 other employer organizations, ABC sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging them to issue a two-year delay until 2018 of the expansion of the small group market definition in the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Under the ACA, the small group market definition is expanded to include employers with 51-100 employees, which is effective in 2016.  
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Legislation Proposed to Repeal the Health Insurance Tax

On Feb. 13, Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) and Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) introduced the Jobs and Premium Protection Act (H.R. 928), which would fully repeal the health insurance tax (HIT) provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ABC-supported coalition, Stop the HIT, sent a letter commending Boustany and Sinema for coming together to repeal the burdensome tax.
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Why Failing to Invest in Technology is Actually Costing You

In an article written by ABC’s Strategic Partner Viewpoint, Mobile Product Manager Bryan Fangipane, addresses how using mobile technology on the jobsite can increase productivity and ease communication. The article also examines certain ways advanced technology can ultimately save you money. READ MORE

PLA Surveys Issued for California and South Carolina Projects

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is soliciting comments from the federal construction community about the potential requirement of a project labor agreement on the Edwards Air Force Base project in California and for large-scale federal construction contracts in South Carolina.
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Save on Shipping and Earn Rewards with FedEx

As an ABC member, you’re invited to enroll in the FedEx Advantage® program for free and save money on your shipping and earn rewards for your loyalty with FedEx. The program offers discounts up to 29 percent on FedEx® services and My FedEx Rewards gives you the chance to earn gift cards and brand-name merchandise when you ship. 
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Craft Professional of the Year Finalists Announced

Four finalists have been chosen for ABC’s Craft Professional of the Year award one of them will be chosen as the winner March 6 during the Careers in Construction Awards ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Craft Professional of the Year award is presented each year to an individual who exhibits outstanding skills and leadership in his or her craft. This year’s winner will receive a 2015 Ram Tradesman truck sponsored by Tradesmen International.
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Resolution to Halt Ambush Election Rule Introduced in Congress

A group of Congressmen Feb. 9 wrote a joint resolution Feb. 9 that would stop the implementation of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ambush election rule. The resolution was introduced by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), with the support of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Sen. Alexander is chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Rep. Kline is chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education.
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Prepare Your Employees to be the Best in the Industry

Can’t make it to the Workforce Conference in Florida next month? Send one of your employees instead and they can learn more about best practices in the industry, network with their peers throughout the country and bring back information to implement in the office or in the field. The conference will take place March 3-6 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and offers sessions for employees of all levels of expertise and focuses on education for mechanical and electrical contractors, business and project managers, safety professionals and workforce development professionals. 
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Guidance Issued for Medicare Policies and Federal Prevailing Wage Statutes

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance in December 2014 clarifying their Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) policies regarding employees who are subject to federal prevailing wage statutes. 
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