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June 25, 2015 | Vol. 7 Issue 4
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SENATE PASSES BILL TO PREEMPT LOCAL PREVAILING WAGE AND EMPLOYMENT LAWS
Michigan took another step toward economic recovery and job creation on June 17 when the Senate passed House Bill 4052, which preempts local prevailing wage and employment laws. The move will prohibit the creation of new local prevailing wage mandates.
"To continue to advance Michigan's economic rebound and competitiveness, we need to consistently limit costly prevailing wage and other wage rules from one locality to another," says Chris Fisher, ABC president. "We appreciate the Legislature's effort to end our current irregular patchwork of rules which is costing us jobs and economic development. The state, rather than 1,800 different political subdivisions, should have the ability to regulate wages and benefits."
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BOARD OF CANVASSERS APPROVES CITIZENS INITIATIVE LANGUAGE FOR DRIVE TO ELIMINATE PREVAILING WAGE
Move Sets the Stage for Push to Protect Taxpayers 
Lansing, MI, May 26, 2015 - Protecting Michigan Taxpayers today applauded the state Board of Canvassers for their approval as-to-form of citizen initiative language to repeal the state's costly prevailing wage regulations. Michigan's prevailing wage law forces taxpayers to pay hundreds-of-millions of dollars more annually for construction projects.
Michigan is one of only 6 states with a costly prevailing wage mandate determined exclusively by union classifications, dramatically driving up costs on everyday taxpayers.
"Today's approval by the state Board of Canvassers was an important step in the fight to make sure Michigan taxpayers' dollars are spent more wisely," said Chris Fisher, President of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan, and a member of Protecting Michigan Taxpayers.
According to a 2013 study by the non-partisan Anderson Economic Group, prevailing wage regulations cost taxpayers more than $224 million each year on public school and higher education construction projects alone. Prevailing wage regulations also discriminate against more than 80 percent of the state's construction workers who do not belong to a union.
Repealing prevailing wage would leave intact all state quality and safety requirements.
Following today's approval of the Initiative language, PMT will prepare to collect roughly 250,000 valid signatures to place the prevailing wage repeal before the state legislature.
Protecting Michigan Taxpayers is a grassroots organization that aims to keep Michigan moving forward by ensuring fairness for our state's taxpayers.
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BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS SUPPORT PREVAILING WAGE REPEAL PETITION DRIVE
A leading construction trade group is supporting an effort to gather petition signatures to repeal Michigan's prevailing wage law.
"We support this citizen effort to stop tax dollar waste and keep Michigan's construction economy strong," said Chris Fisher, president of ABC. "It's time to eliminate this outdated law that does little more than unnecessarily increase costs on taxpayer-funded construction projects across the state. Our school districts, colleges and universities will especially benefit when costs are brought back in line with the private sector standards."
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GREAT LAKES SAFETY & TRAINING CENTER TO SPONSOR SAFETY BRIEFING AT 2015 MCLS
 
ABC of Michigan is pleased to announce that ABC member Great Lakes Safety & Training Center will be providing the daily safety briefing for attendees at the 2015 Michigan Construction Leadership Summit (MCLS) at the start of each day of the event.
The MCLS is premiering at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI from September 30 - October 2, 2015. The conference, designed for the leadership and management of construction companies in Michigan, features world-class speakers on leadership, workforce development, safety, labor law, and an update on Michigan's construction economy.
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2015 MCLS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
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GOV. SNYDER APPOINTS ABC OF GREATER MICHIGAN MEMBER BRADLEY LAACKMAN TO RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS' AND MAINTENANCE AND ALTERATION CONTRACTORS' BOARD
Bradley Laackman of Grand Rapids was appointed to the Residential Builders' and Maintenance and Alteration Contractors' Board on June 22 according to an announcement from Gov. Snyder. Laackman is director of interior construction services at Custer, Inc. and is the owner and principal at Honor Professional Management & Honor Seating.
"Bradley brings valuable experience to this board and I am confident he will effectively serve this role," Snyder said.
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ABC OF MICHIGAN HIRES NEW GRASSROOTS & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
 Breanna Cope has joined the ABC of Michigan team as the Grassroots and Communications Coordinator. Breanna brings a passion for effective communications and strong member relations. Her previous experience as the Advocacy and Communications Coordinator for the Michigan Association of Public School Academies has given her extensive experience in communicating with members, legislators, and the public, building relationships, leading teams, and planning a large annual conference.
Breanna graduated from Michigan State University, and will be a Spartan for life. She loves to attend games and cheer for the MSU basketball and football teams. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, and has recently picked up golf (a work in progress).
Breanna is excited to begin promoting the Merit Shop philosophy. ABC of Michigan is delighted to welcome Breanna to the team. |
