Related Links: Summary of administration's proposal President Proposes Plan to Cut Corporate Tax Rates Construction industry organizations are finding fault with the Obama administration’s proposal to overhaul the corporate tax system, saying it does nothing to help many small businesses, which are prevalent in the design and construction industry. The proposal, which administration officials released on Feb. 22, would trim the top corporate rate to 28% from 35% and make permanent tax credits for renewable energy and research. In a call with reporters, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said President Obama's plan would simplify the tax code and end dozens of
The Environmental Protection Agency's new general permit for construction-site stormwater runoff does not include a numeric limit for turbidity, a major victory for the construction industry. Still, the new permit will require substantially more cost and effort to comply with than the previous permit, industry sources say.At more than 100 pages, "it's twice as long, and there's a lot of new stuff in here," says Leah Pilconis, senior environmental advisor to the Associated General Contractors of America.The permit, issued on Feb. 16, replaces the EPA permit issued in 2008. It applies to states in which EPA has permitting jurisdiction under
A new study shows that physically blocking the Chicago Area Water System—the man-made connection between the Mississippi River basin and the Great Lakes—is a feasible solution to prevent Asian carp from infiltrating into Lake Michigan.
Related Links: Summary of administration's tax proposal The Obama administration has proposed overhauling the corporate tax system, including a cut in the top rate and eliminating many subsidies and other breaks. But the framework, which the Treasury Dept. released on Feb. 22, does not affect many small businesses, which are prevalent in the design and construction industry.The proposal calls for trimming the top corporate tax rate to 28% from 35%, and making permanent tax credits for renewable energy and research.In a call with reporters, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said that President Obama's plan would simplify the tax code and end
Related Links: OMB Proposes BRAC-like Board for Buildings BRAC: Total Cost 48% Higher Than Initial Estimate Plans to trim the federal real estate inventory have advanced, with House passage of a bill to set up a panel to recommend properties to be designated as surplus. Construction industry officials say such a plan would provide opportunities to upgrade federal buildings or spark private developments on former federal sites. But the House measure faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where a similar bill has been introduced but has yet to move.The House bill, which the chamber approved Feb. 7 by a
A group of 45 Senate lawmakers —all but one of whom are Republicans—is attempting to revive the Keystone XL crude-oil pipeline project, which President Obama nixed last month.
President Barack Obama's proposed $3.8-trillion budget for fiscal year 2013 would continue to squeeze discretionary spending and make further cuts in many construction programs that were trimmed this year. The proposal includes some construction hikes and repeats Obama's 2011 call for a sharp, immediate boost for highways and transit. But the transportation proposal's outlook is dim, because Congress turned it down twice before.Obama's budget request, sent to Congress on Feb. 13, is just the beginning of a long, tough partisan fight over 2013 spending. The outcome will have a direct impact on design and construction firms that focus on government
The Sustainable Sites Initiative, or SITES, has certified the first three projects under its four-star system for rating the sustainable design, construction and maintenance of built landscapes.
Related Links: Letter from industry groups supporting bill OMB Proposes BRAC-like Board for Buildings CBO Raises Questions About Plan to Shed Excess Federal Real Estate The House of Representatives has approved legislation that aims to reduce the inventory of excess federal properties while redeveloping valuable assets. The House cleared the bill, the Civilian Property Realignment Act, on Feb. 7 by a 259-164 vote. If enacted, the legislation would provide opportunities for the redevelopment of federal buildings. The measure, introduced by Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), now heads to the Senate. A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate but it
