Government

McConnell Concerned About ‘Card Check’ Bill

Top GOP lawmakers told open-shop advocates they face an uphill battle on Capitol Hill. At the Associated Builders and Contractors’ legislative conference on June 25, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) raised concerns about the outlook for the Employee Free Choice Act, which ABC and other opponents call the “card check” bill. When Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.) switched to the Democratic party in April, he vowed to oppose the bill. But McConnell doubts Specter will keep that promise and thinks the GOP needs at least two Democrats to block the bill.

House GOP Leader John Boehner (Ohio) called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act the largest Davis-Bacon Act expansion ever, despite its boost for construction jobs.

Bruce Buckley is a freelance writer and photographer based in the Washington, D.C., area.

As ENR's former Washington Bureau Chief, Tom Ichniowski wrote about the federal government since the George H.W. Bush administration, and covered at least five major highway bills. A recognized expert on government policy on infrastructure and regulation, Tom is also a Baltimore native and Orioles fan who grew up rooting for Brooks and Frank Robinson. He is a graduate of Columbia College and Columbia’s graduate school of journalism, where he once used “unrelentless” in a headline.

Post a comment to this article

Join Groundbreaking Women in Construction (GWIC) in San Diego from June 14 to 16, 2026. This premier leadership conference brings together women across the construction industry to gain practical strategies, grow their network, and advance their careers. Learn from ENR-curated sessions, connect with trailblazing professionals, and walk away with tools that drive retention, innovation, and impact.

Live: June 23, 2026 at 2:00 pm EDT New market dynamics like competitive pressures and workforce evolutions are forcing construction companies to re-prioritize their investments. To strengthen cash flow, accelerate operations, and boost profits, learn how the focus now must be on optimizing digital transformation and financial management.