Related Links: NLRB Fact Sheet on rule, including a link to final rule and dissent Court Strikes Down New NLRB Rule (ENR May 2012) The National Labor Relations Board has adopted a final rule that seeks to speed its process for carrying out union representation elections.Organized labor supports the regulation but business organizations criticize it as the "ambush" rule, because, they contend, it would not give companies enough time to prepare for an election.Denise Gold, Associated General Contractors of America associate general counsel, said that a coalition of business groups plans to file a legal challenge to the regulation in
Related Links: ENR Editorial "Easy Ways to Help Small Firms" (11/10/2014) House DOD Bill Includes Design-Build Individual Sureties Amendements A U.S. House-approved $585-billion Dept. of Defense authorization bill includes design-build provisions that will benefit contractors and architects who seek DOD projects, including a cap on the number of short-listed firms and a ban on "reverse auctions."The bill, which the House passed on Dec. 4 by a bipartisan 300-119 vote, is expected to clear the Senate before the lame-duck session ends. The House had approved a different version of the measure in May but the Senate never acted on it.The newly
Related Links: Transcript of 12/1/14 oral arguments Supreme Court's New Term Includes Two Key Cases The U.S. Supreme Court justices asked tough questions of both sides during Dec. 1 oral arguments in a case that centers on the government’s authority to issue interpretations of its own regulations without public input.The case could have significant implications for construction employers and small businesses that face real costs to comply with federal regulations.The case stems from an interpretive rule, issued by the Labor Dept. in 2010, that requires mortgage banks to pay loan officers overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act.The Mortgage Bankers
Related Links: EPA announcement Private Sector Taps Federal Funds to Jumpstart Biofuels Infrastructure The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to postpone the release of its 2014 renewable fuel standard regulations will create uncertainty within the biofuels market and may cause investors to scuttle plans to build refineries in the U.S., biofuel advocates told reporters at a Nov. 24 briefing. The standards—known as renewable volume obligations—set requirements for blending biofuels, such as ethanol, into gasoline at gasoline pumping stations.EPA announced on Nov. 21 that it would not issue its 2014 renewable percentage standards until sometime in 2015. In addition, EPA will
The Senate has narrowly rejected a proposed extension of TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline, falling one vote short of the 60 needed to end debate on a bill that would authorize the project to proceed.
Geo-engineering, or climate engineering, is still in its embryonic stage of development. Some of the ideas experts are discussing, such as putting lunar glass or metallic reflecting disks into space to reduce the amount of incoming solar radiation, sound like the stuff of science fiction.
Related Links: White House video of Obama 11/5/2014 press conference Election preview: Even If GOP Wins Senate Control, Gridlock May Persist (ENR 11/3/2014 issue) [subscription] As Republicans' wave of Election Day victories propelled them to control of the Senate and an increased House majority, construction industry officials hold out hope for bipartisan infrastructure bills in the new Congress, especially a new surface-transportation measure, and also see encouraging signs for energy legislation.Although the GOP won big on Nov. 4, its new power is far from absolute. If the inter-party fights that tied up the current Congress erupt again, gridlock could return.Republicans
Related Links: EPA Sets Ambitious Goal for Reducing CO2 Emissions from Existing Powerplants EPA's Oct. 28 Notice of Data Availability New information that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released on Oct. 28 could signal changes it might make to a proposed major rule that aims to cut greenhouse-gas emissions from existing powerplants, EPA watchers say.The shape of the final regulation is significant for engineering and construction firms that will help states and electric utilities to implement plans and controls to trim carbon emissions. Some construction-industry groups and labor unions have said the proposal could shutter coal plants and cost jobs
Enlarge Related Links: Cook Political Report Forecasts University of Virginia Center for Politics/Larry Sabato Forecasts As congressional campaigns roll into their final weeks, construction-industry officials are watching to see whether Republicans will take control of the Senate or Democrats will hang on to their majority. A GOP Senate win would put the party in charge of both houses of Congress.But if Republicans do take the Senate, they won't have a clear field. Analysts don't think the GOP will gain enough Senate seats to get a filibuster-proof 60 votes. Nor are Republicans expected to score the two-thirds majorities needed in both
Photo by AP Wide World Obama confers with Senate Majority Leader Reid (left) and Republican Leader McConnell. GOP could gain the Senate in November. Related Links: Even If GOP Wins Senate Control, Gridlock May Persist Construction-industry groups and labor unions are pouring tens of millions of dollars into favored congressional candidates' election campaigns and plan to match or slightly exceed their contributions in 2010, the last midterm election cycle.Officials say one reason for the heavy spending is that party control of the Senate is at stake (see story). They also want to elect candidates who can end the partisan battles
