Tag: politics: Page 13

Business

Opinion: Bill extensions becoming the norm for this Congress

I had to laugh a little, sadly, last week when I read that Congress couldn’t get a farm bill passed. Instead of the usual five-year farm bill, Congress had to squeak out a nine-month extension. Welcome to our world, farmer friends. And take note of this weary warning from your construction brethren: Congress has been […]

January 20, 2013

Business

$1 trillion spending gap for U.S. infrastructure holds real consequences

“Infrastructure is the most important thing you never think about,” Jim Hoecker, the former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, told the Washington Post. Indeed, should the U.S. not invest $1.1 trillion more in infrastructure by 2020, experts warn power outages will increase, food and clothing prices will jump, bridges will begin to crumble […]

January 17, 2013

Business

Construction job growth means hope for U.S. economy

A new report from the Washington Post calls the construction industry one of the “bright spots” in the recovering labor market, noting that the industry’s addition of 30,000 jobs in December accounted for one-fifth of all jobs added in the U.S. that month. The Post makes mention of the labor shortage that construction faces. Noting […]

January 7, 2013

Business

Defense bill adds nearly $500 million in North Carolina military construction projects

President Barack Obama signed into effect a $633 billion defense bill the night of January 2, the Associated Press reported. Though the bill does include cuts in overall defense spending, it is expected to pull in nearly $500 million for construction projects for military bases in North Carolina. The bill also grants all military personnel […]

January 4, 2013

Workforce

Opinion: Legalized marijuana bad for construction and society

Now that Colorado and Washington State have legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana, the construction industry will be forced to confront some ugly problems. Can you drug test someone now and fire them if they test positive for pot? I don’t think the states or the human resources professionals have worked out the details […]

January 4, 2013

Business

Congress passes fiscal cliff deal

With negotiations extended to the absolute deadline, Congress passed a deal on New Year’s Day that will that will prevent the U.S. from going over the so-called “fiscal cliff.” Early Tuesday morning, the Senate passed the measure 89-8. Late Tuesday night, the GOP-run House of Representatives approved the measure 257-167. Among House Republicans the vote […]

January 2, 2013

Workforce

The beginning of the end for unions?

Lost in the news cycle from last week was an unfortunate bit about a pro-union protester taking a swing at a Fox News “contributor” in one of the right-to-work rallies in Michigan. It was an ugly bit of video.  The Fox News guy suffered a chipped tooth, but fortunately the stupidity of the moment didn’t […]

December 20, 2012

Business

Are you concerned about the Fiscal Cliff?

December 17, 2012

Workforce

Michigan passes right-to-work law prohibiting required union membership

Michigan will soon become the 24th right-to-work state as a result of changes to the state’s labor laws approved by its legislature, NBC News reported. The law is meant to prevent workplaces from making union membership a requirement for employment. Many union members objected the proposed law, ultimately approved 58-41, as state lawmakers debated and […]

December 12, 2012

Business

4 key post-election issues arise for construction industry

The elections have ended, and Congress is still divided while the United States races toward the fiscal cliff.  In light of this issue, SmartBlog spoke with members of the Associated General Contractors of America on four areas the construction industry should continue to watch over the next year: fiscal cliff and taxes, infrastructure investment, labor […]

November 26, 2012

Business

Vote, even if you don’t like either candidate

Voting, elections,

November 5, 2012

Business

Yes, he built it himself

Josh Scheckel, the founder and owner of J.J. Scheckel Corp., was none too happy when the current president of the United States alleged that business owners didn't build their businesses themselves.

October 18, 2012