During the contentious and costly 2012 elections, construction industry and union groups poured more than $139 million total into federal campaigns. But after the votes were in on Nov. 6, the balance of power was little changed between the parties.
Industry, which generally backed Republican candidate Mitt Romney, and organized labor, which supported the victorious President Obama, both predict a second Obama term will be similar to the first. That is likely to mean a continued tough regulatory policy in areas such as air and water pollution and workplace safety. On the spending side, Obama is expected to keep talking up infrastructure spending. But ongoing deficit worries will put pressure on funding for public works.