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Core Policy Issues

The following list represents AGC’s agreed upon core policy issues and positions. These provide direction for the lobbying team. The issues and positions are debated and developed by AGC’s Legislative Committee Forum and then reviewed and approved by the board of directors in preparation for the upcoming legislative session.

Core Policy Issue Positions

Approved by the Board of Directors on 10/21/11

Preserve and Advocate
Public Infrastructure Investments

  • Preserve Highway Trust Fund
  • Support infrastructure funding at the federal, state, and local level (including water and sewer systems, education capital investments K–16, roads)
  • Support Columbia River Crossing and the bundling of project bids providing NW contractors the ability to compete

Advocate and Support

Workforce Development Investments

  • Support funding of vocational high school pilots
  • Support flexible/cooperative apprenticeship utilization model featuring slow phase in, waivers, large projects only, non-craft-specific, implementation committee comprised of equal numbers of contractors and labor representatives
  • Support comprehensive federal immigration reform featuring industry labor needs
  • (* Oppose attempts to undo Supreme Court medical marijuana ruling requiring no accommodation)

Preserve and Advocate

Competitive Public Works Contracting Laws

  • Preserve the CMGC project delivery method and support initiatives to ensure intended use for qualified projects
  • Preserve competitive and construct by contract principles
  • Support diversity efforts focused on strengthening emerging small business contractors’ capacity to compete for work
  • Advocate for prevailing wage projects limited to true “public works” only
  • Oppose mandated project labor agreements
  • Advocate Oregon University System and the individual campuses establish a more open and competitive public works procurement process

Advocate

Improved Business and Tax Climate Policies

  • Oppose gross receipts based taxes and increases
  • Support pro-job-creating tax incentives, (i.e. Business Energy Tax Credits, single sales factor, etc.)

Advocate

Industry Sensitive Environmental Regulations

  • Advocate an incentive-oriented approach for emission reduction equipment and oppose California’s strict off-road emissions equipment rules
  • Oppose new environmental regulations that will impose a financial burden on the industry and/or the broader economy

Preserve and Support

Industry Standards and Practices

  • Licensure Standards: Preserve principle features of enhanced commercial licensure standards. Consider modifications aimed at reducing unnecessary costs for all contractors
  • Prompt Pay: Support strengthening existing laws to ensure prompt payment throughout chain of commerce—owner to general contractor, to specialty contractor, to supplier
  • Retention: Preserve retainage as industry practice to ensure accountability, predictability, and stability throughout chain of commerce—owner to general contractor, to specialty contractor, to supplier

If you have questions regarding one of the issues or AGC’s stated position, please contact John Rakowitz, 503-685-8311 or 800-826-6610. Click here to access a PDF version of the Core Policy Issues.