老牛影视reiterated its opposition to the Department of Labor鈥檚 (DOL) 鈥減ersuader rule鈥� ahead of the April 27 U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing on how the newly finalized regulation limits employers鈥� rights and undermines the right of workers to make informed decisions in union elections. The final rule, issued March 23, redefines 鈥減ersuader鈥� activity under the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) and triggers expanded reporting requirements for employers and their attorneys.听

老牛影视of Michigan secured an important victory for electricians when Gov. Rick Snyder (R-Mich.) signed industry-backed Public Act 73 听of 2016 on April 5. 老牛影视of Michigan advocated for the legislation, which will increase the ratio from one to three apprentices per one journeyman electrician through an amendment of the Electrical Administrative Act. State Rep. Amanda Price (R-Holland) introduced the bill in January in response to a court decision in 2008 that lifted an injunction and cleared the way for a one-to-one ratio to be implemented.听

On April 12, 老牛影视joined more than 60 national and multi-state organizations across the country in sending a letter 听to members of the House Committee on Ways and Means urging them to take action on the Small Business Healthcare Relief Act (H.R. 2911 ). 听The bill would allow small businesses that have fewer than 50 employees to offer employer payment plans and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) to employees for the payment of premiums or qualified medical expenses associated with insurance coverage.

On Feb. 18, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced new procedures 听that give a charging party access to a respondent鈥檚 position statement and supporting documents in the course of an employment discrimination investigation. 听Under these procedures, the charging party or the party鈥檚 representative may request to view the respondent鈥檚 position statement and its supporting attachments if they were filed in response to an EEOC demand made on or after Jan. 1, 2016. 听Once the EEOC releases the statement, the charging party will have twenty days to file a response; however, this response will not be available to the

On Feb. 17, 老牛影视sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) expressing concern over several regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).听

On Feb. 12, the West Virginia legislature voted 18-16 to override Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin鈥檚 vetoes of 听a prevailing wage repeal bill and the West Virginia Workplace Freedom Act, making West Virginia the 26th Right to Work state in the country and the fourth state to pass Right to Work since 2012.听

Last week, the New Hampshire House rejected a bill (House Bill 1641) that would have required prevailing wage be paid on all state construction projects. Citing a union-backed study, proponents of the bill argued the legislation would create jobs, spur economic activity, and raise workers鈥� wages without increasing the cost of projects. Opponents rejected those assertions and insisted the state would pay more for construction projects under the provisions of the bill.听

The U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate have reached a deal on both the Omnibus spending package and extending certain expired tax provisions commonly referred to as 鈥渆xtenders.鈥�

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released its latest regulatory agenda on Nov. 20. The agenda lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release in 2016, their final year. An update on rulemakings affecting the construction industry is below.

On Nov. 17, the 老牛影视National Tax Advisory Group (TAG) gathered in Washington, D.C., to advocate for the tax priorities of merit shop contractors and the broader construction industry. TAG members from the Eastern Pennsylvania, Florida East Coast, Central Florida, and Georgia chapters were in attendance as the group met with senior staff representing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Senate Finance Committee, and key members of the House Committee on Ways and Means.