FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR 
Grassroots action is the key to moving legislators. 

As an employer from their legislative district, your voice rings loud and clear at the Capitol...if you use it.  Special interests that are opposed to merit-based contracting are always at the Capitol pushing their agenda.  You need to provide, as Paul Harvey used to say, "the rest of the story."

Click here to find your local legislators.

Don't know what to say?  Here's a simple example.

"Dear Legislator,

My business, ABC Company, has been constructing buildings and providing jobs in your district for 35 years.  We are proud of the work we have done, and even more proud of our workers, who we consider as family members.

Right now we are facing very difficult times in the construction industry.  It is no secret that construction faces a long and tough road for the next few years.  We are doing everything we can to weather the downturn and keep all of our workers on the payroll.  The last thing we want to do is put one of our own out of work.

That's where you come in. Government does play a role in our industry and you can help minimize the downturn. 

Excessive regulation raises the cost of a building project, making it unlikely that an owner or financier will move forward.  Please help in keeping those extra costs down, because it truly means less people working.

Please reform our state's prevailing wage law.  Our system does not look for real market wages, and is about 17% over what the majority of workers get paid.  While I wish I could pay each man and woman in my shop more, I also know that out-of-line wages mean less jobs.  It does no good to offer a person $50 per hour and then lay the person off because you are priced out of the market.  I pay my workers based on how much productivity they bring to the table, and that allows me to be competitive.  I review each worker's performance, and pay them accordingly.  If I don't pay them well, I lose them to competitors.  Why shouldn't we let employees and employers bargain freely for wages?

The state does purchase a good deal of construction each year.  This year, with construction costs plummeting, it would be a good opportunity for the state to update its infrastructure.  The bonding bill moves the costs off this year's budget, and appropriately spreads out costs over the life of the building or roads.  Buying durable goods at their lowest cost is good economics, and I encourage you to support a substantial bonding bill.

Thank you for your public service and your time in hearing my thoughts.  I understand you also have a tough task ahead of you in the legislature this year, and hope that you can take some time to improve the construction business climate in our cold-weather state.

Your friend,"

Sponsors
Finance & Commerce Media Group

Finance & Commerce Media Group

ABC Insurance

ABC Insurance

Building Restoration Corporation

Building Restoration Corporation