Redo That Voodoo
Redo That Voodoo
By Paul Krugman
Republicans are feeling good about the midterms — so good that they’ve started saying what they really think. This week the party’s Senate leadership stopped pretending that it cares about deficits, stating explicitly that while we can’t afford to aid the unemployed or prevent mass layoffs of schoolteachers, cost is literally no object when it comes to tax cuts for the affluent.
And that’s one reason — there are others — why you should fear the consequences if the G.O.P. actually does as well in November as it hopes.
Invincible Ignorance
Invincible Ignorance
by Paul Krugman
Just in case you had some lingering notion that anyone in the Republican party was fiscally responsible, Mitch McConnell has weighed in in support of Jon Kyl:
[T]here's no evidence whatsoever that the Bush tax cuts actually diminished revenue. They increased revenue, because of the vibrancy of these tax cuts in the economy. So I think what Senator Kyl was expressing was the view of virtually every Republican on that subject.
Obama Makes Clear That Jobs Are His Number One Priority
President Obama visited a electric automobile battery plant under construction in Holland, Michigan to talk about the importance of creating jobs, and how investments in clean energy will be a key driver of sustained job growth. And the plant that the President visited? It's being built 100% union!
PLAs Can Help Alleviate State and Local Fiscal Crisis
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Toyota to Revive Stalled Mississippi Plant
Toyota announced on June 16 that it is resuming construction on its new manufacturing facility in Mississippi...which is being done under a Project Labor Agreement - just like all of its American manufacturing facilities before it.
President Obama's Remarks to the Nation on the Gulf Oil Spill
President Obama provides an outline of the federal response to the Gulf oil spill...along with a forceful argument for pursuing new energy policies that put the focus on developing energy here in the United States - which will mean job opportunities for America's skilled craft professionals.
Remarks of President Barack Obama Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, June 2, 2010
As Prepared for Delivery—
Good afternoon. It’s great to be back at Carnegie Mellon, and in the beautiful city of Pittsburgh. I love visiting a good sports town. Last year, I stole Dan Rooney to serve as my ambassador to Ireland. But to make it up to you, I invited both the Steelers and the Penguins to the White House to celebrate their championships. And seeing as how the Blackhawks are headed to Philly tonight with a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals, let’s just say I’m glad to be on this side of the state today.
Stimulus Infrastructure Investments Give Boost to National Construction Spending Figures
Increases in public-sector construction spending, driven by stimulus funds, helped boost total construction activity by almost $2 billion between February and March, according to a new analysis of federal spending figures released by the Associated General Contractors of America. The figures show that the stimulus has gone from slowing declines in construction spending to contributing to increases, the association noted.
Peer Review of Veteran’s Affairs “Study” on Project Labor Agreements Finds Numerous Shortcomings
A recent “study” commissioned by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and conducted by Rider Leavett Bucknall was found to contain numerous deficiencies by a Professor and Senior Economist at Colorado State University, who examined its methodologies. According to Dr. Kevin Duncan, PhD., “the conclusions of the study should be interpreted with caution.”
Among many deficiencies, Dr. Duncan cited the fact that the entire study is “opinion-based” and devoid of any statistical-based empirical evidence, and that the study is has a small sample size of only 22 respondents.
“Race to the Bottom” Business Model Epitomized on Atlanta Airport Project
Jose Alvarez first asked about a bricklaying job with M&D Masonry at the Atlanta airport in March, and the foreman assured him that being an illegal immigrant wouldn’t be a problem.
“Do you have a picture ID?” said Bob Beaty, hiring foreman for the Americus-based masonry company working on the new $1.4 billion international terminal.
U.S. Outlines Plan to Curb Violations of Labor Law
In a move that will affect most American corporations, the Labor Department plans to require companies to prepare and adopt compliance plans aimed at ensuring they do not violate wage, job safety and equal employment laws.
So Far, Nuclear Industry Re-Vitalization Bears the Union Label
The re-vitalization of the American nuclear power industry is considered a cornerstone towards achieving the twin objectives of reducing our nation’s reliance on foreign sources of energy and reducing global carbon emissions. And those involved in the resurgence of nuclear power are turning to the value proposition offered by America’s Building Trades Unions.
Final Rule Issued on Obama PLA Executive Order
The Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council released on April 13 a Final Rule guiding the implementation of President Barack Obama’s Executive order encouraging Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for federally funded construction projects in excess of $25 million.
Great Lakes Region Showing Signs of Economic Recovery
There is no doubt that the U.S. Great Lakes region has been battered since the beginning of the recession in December 2007 by plant closings and consolidations, resulting in hundreds of thousands of lost jobs. The rapid decline of the automotive sector during this time has further decimated the region, especially states like Michigan, where reliance on the auto sector permeates every area. As the country begins its overall recovery, the Great Lakes region is beginning to see some positive signs within its borders as well. During the second quarter of this year, 43 plants currently under construction will begin operations, bringing more than 4,700 new jobs to the region.
Harris County Texas Lines Up $9.8 Billion in Industrial Projects
About 235 major industrial projects with a combined total investment value of more than $9.8 billion are currently under development in Harris County, Texas, making it one of the leading counties in the U.S. for industrial project work. Known as the nation's largest oil & gas and petrochemical hub, Harris County is home to more than 440 major operational industrial plants.
Native Americans Receive Skilled Trades Training
NEW TOWN, NORTH DAKOTA -- The horses may not appreciate the pounding of hammers at a New Town arena, but it's a pleasant sound to supporters and participants in Fort Berthold Reservation's therapeutic and educational horse programs.
Construction workers to rally at Ground Zero
Thousands of unionized construction workers and a few elected officials are expected to hold a rally Tuesday to pressure the two sides warring over rebuilding part of Ground Zero to reach an agreement.
Can’t Find the Exit Off the “Low-Road”: GOP's Key Anti-Union Witness Underpaid Workers, Violated Wage Laws
House Republicans held a forum last month to slam the Obama administration's alliance with organized labor, charging, among other things, that government favoritism toward the labor movement was unfairly preventing non-union companies from getting contracts. But GOP lawmakers declined to mention that a key witness at the event, the CEO of a Pennsylvania construction firm had, in fact, agreed to be temporarily barred from receiving government contracts after being found to have violated state wage laws by underpaying workers.
BCTD President Ayers Named to Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced that BCTD President Mark H. Ayers has been named as a member of a Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future that will be charged with providing formal recommendations for developing a safe, long-term solution to managing the Nation’s used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.
PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS’ EFFECT ON SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION COSTS IN MASSACHUSETTS
In their on-going, mostly futile, attempts to discredit and tarnish the value of Community Workforce Agreements, the “race to the bottom” apologists (e.g. the Associated Builders and Contractors) show slovenly devotion to one specific study concerning school construction costs that was conducted by the widely discredited Beacon Hill Institute.
White House Pegs ARRA Construction Jobs Impact at 168,000
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has produced or saved an estimated 168,000 construction-sector jobs through the end of 2009, the White House Council of Economic Advisers says in its latest update on the impact of the stimulus legislation.
Pharmaceutical-Bio Industry Expects to Deliver $2.2 Billion in Capital and Maintenance Project Starts for Fourth Quarter
After the dark and dreary news of this year's financial headlines, the Pharmaceutical-Biotech Industry managed to light up the end of the fourth quarter. While not escaping the maelstrom of financial disorder, the sector will have started construction on 114 North American projects during the last quarter by the time 2009 comes to a close. With a combined total investment value (TIV) of $2.2 billion, the project average translates into a healthy $19 million. While the vast majority of the projects are for new research facilities, there are several scheduled that will add biological manufacturing capacity.
Project Labor Agreement Approved for Power Plant in Lodi, CA
Despite intense lobbying and premature boasting by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the Board of the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) voted overwhelmingly today in favor of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and maintenance agreement for construction of a $432 million power plant in Lodi, CA.
Fisker to purchase, retool GM plant
The old General Motors plant in Delaware that until July cranked out sports cars for Pontiac, Saturn and Opel will be sold and retooled to build plug-in hybrids with UAW workers.
Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. Awarded $200 Million in Federal Stimulus for Smart Grid Initiative
Constellation Energy(NYSE: CEG) today released the following statement from its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mayo A. Shattuck III, regarding the announcement by the Obama Administration that Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) has been awarded a $200 million federal stimulus grant in support of a comprehensive Smart Grid initiative that would be one of the most advanced nationwide.
Chaplaincy Center to open for Summit safety forces
Early in his career, Summit County Sheriff Drew Alexander, then a rookie with the Akron Police Department, was sent to the grisly scene of a murder-suicide. When he arrived, he found a 2-year-old child had been shot in the head, killed by one of his parents.
PLA Signed for Major Global Foundries Project in New York
A Project Labor Agreement has been negotiated, and is close to being signed, for the construction of a $4.2 billion chip-manufacturing facility in Saratoga County, NY. Among many innovative provisions, the agreement calls for local women-owned and minority businesses and local vendors to receive opportunities with the project.
Building Trades Leaders Gather in Washington for 2009 Legislative Conference
The Building and Construction Trades Department kicks off its 2009 Legislative Conference on Monday, May 18th in Washington, DC. Roughly 3,000 state and local building trades leaders will descend upon the Marriot Wardman Park Hotel for three days of intense discussions surrounding key legislative issues. The theme for this year’s conference is “One Country. One Purpose. One Movement.”
President Ayers Testifies on "Green Jobs"
BCTD President Mark H. Ayers appeared before the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) to provide the viewpoint of America’s Building Trades Unions on the overall issue of “green jobs”.
New Study Confirms Benefits of Project Labor Agreements
A new study commissioned by the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University once again affirms the fact that Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) do not discriminate against employers and workers; do not limit the pool of bidders; and do not raise construction costs.
AFL-CIO Launches “Center for Green Jobs”
The AFL-CIO announced on February 5 the formation of The Center for Green Jobs, for the expressed purpose of assisting unions, their employers and other partners by stimulating the development of good “green” jobs and helping to train the skilled workforce of the future those jobs will require.
House Passes Energy Bill With Davis-Bacon and PLA Language Included
The House Sept. 16 passed an energy policy bill with both Davis-Bacon Act and project labor agreement components that the White House promptly threatened to veto over provisions that officials said either failed to pass in other legislation, or which were previously threatened by veto.
Arizona's Employer-Sanctions Law Not Preempted, Ninth Circuit Affirms
Arizona's tough immigration law requiring employers to use the federal E-Verify employment verification system and penalizing those who hire illegal immigrants by revoking their business licenses is not preempted by federal immigration law and does not violate employers' rights to due process, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Sept. 17.
US Industrial Manufacturing Spending Rebounding in the Fourth Quarter
The prime construction seasons of spring and summer in 2008 have been devastating for the U.S. Industrial Manufacturing Industry. Coming on the heels of rising oil and gas prices, the credit crunch, the housing market collapse and a weak dollar, spending had been dramatically reduced for the industry when compared with spending in 2007.
New Report Touts Job Benefits of Green Project Investments
A newly release report claims that a $100 billion investment program in green economic recovery for energy efficiency would create 2 million U.S. jobs over a two-year period while also addressing global warming and building a green, low-carbon economy.