The U.S. Senate, Feb. 24 voted 70-28 to pass a $15 billion jobs bill that includes a one-year holiday from the Social Security payroll tax for hiring workers that have been unemployed for at least 60 days. The vote came two days after five Republican Senators joined Democrats in voting to stop debate and move the bill toward a final vote.
In a letter send to all members of the Senate Feb. 19, ABC urged Senators to vote against cloture saying the provisions contained in the measure “will do nothing to create significant job growth in the construction industry or any other industry.”
ABC pointed out that simply providing tax incentives to hire new employees does not address the true problem in the construction industry – a lack of projects – and suggested improvements that could help create more work, including fostering a more business-friendly environment.
In the letter, ABC also called for the freeze on lending to lifted and for development of a comprehensive energy plan to create jobs in upgrading and building new facilities and to create a stable, less expensive energy supply. In addition, ABC noted that Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage requirements should be lifted and project labor agreements should be prohibited.
“Any effort to stimulate the construction industry must use taxpayer dollars efficiently, and must award projects based solely on merit,” the letter stated.
The bill will now be considered in the U.S. House of Representatives.
For more information, contact Brewster Bevis at ABC,
bevis@abc.org.