ABC Says Stimulus Should Focus On Investment in Construction, Not Wasteful Spending

Washington, D.C — Feb. 6 — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today expressed overall support for the construction infrastructure spending in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R.1), but noted that the bill should have a sharper focus on long-term economic benefits and that the Davis-Bacon Act requirements should be eliminated.  The stimulus package contains more than $160 billion in infrastructure funding for the construction of federal buildings, schools, highways, bridges, workforce development and additional programs.

“This package represents a great opportunity to improve our nation’s infrastructure and to gain back some of the one million jobs the construction industry has lost since January 2007,” said Jerry Gorski, 2009 ABC national chairman and president of Gorski Engineering, Inc., Collegeville, Pa. “In addition, small businesses, which make up the majority of ABC’s 25,000 members, will get help in the form of tax relief provisions and incentives for energy efficiency that will not only help them through this tough economic time, but will also help create more “green” projects.

“However, including Davis-Bacon Act provisions in the bill not only increases wasteful spending but will not offer any additional benefits to the economy,” said Gorski.

“ABC is excited to have its members getting back to work and we would like to see America’s tax dollars being spent on creating more sustainable jobs instead of artificially inflating wages.”

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national trade association representing 25,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 79 chapters across the United States. For more news and information, visit ABC’s website.