According to a recent study by the Lansing, Mich.-based Anderson Economic Group (AEG), Michigan鈥檚听prevailing wage law costs taxpayers听and the state鈥檚 public schools millions each year in higher construction costs鈥攁dding up to more than 315 elementary school buildings that could have been built in the past decade with the money lost to prevailing wages.

ABC, as part of the Health Choices Coalition, sent a letter to Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.), supporting the Restoring Access to Medication Act, an effort听to avert the unintended consequences resulting from the restrictions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) placed on tax-preferred accounts that prohibit their use for purchasing over-the-counter (鈥淥TC鈥�) medications without a prescription.

The U.S. Supreme Court听has set a date听of Jan. 13, 2014, to review a lower court ruling that President Obama鈥檚 early 2012 鈥渞ecess鈥� appointments of three members to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) were unconstitutional.

The massive health care law, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), continues to create uncertainty and confusion in the construction industry, making it difficult for the nation's contractors to plan for the future and create jobs. And with the employer mandate provisions becoming effective in 2015, significant employer education is required to understand how to comply with the law.

In a 55-44 vote, the U.S. Senate Oct. 29 confirmed Richard Griffin to serve a four-year term as the National Labor Relations Board鈥檚 general counsel, despite opposition from Senate Republicans and the ABC-led Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW).听

On Oct. 25, OSHA听announced听a 47-day extension of the public comment deadline for OSHA鈥檚 proposed crystalline silica rulemaking from Dec. 11 to Jan. 27. More than 25 business organizations, including ABC, the Construction Industry Safety Coalition and others in the industry, requested additional time for stakeholders to appropriately analyze OSHA鈥檚 proposal, develop useful data and provide meaningful feedback. Also requesting extensions were the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Small Business Committee and the U.S. Small Business Administration鈥檚 Office of Advocacy. Most requests,听including ABC鈥檚, asked for 90 days

The federal government reopened on Oct. 17 after at 16-day shutdown and agencies that either weren鈥檛 operating or were only partially operating during that time are back up and running. Here is some information on what 老牛影视members can expect from a few of the agencies post-shutdown.听

An updated summary of employer requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is available for 老牛影视members in a reference document provided by Washington Council Ernst & Young.

Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace (or Exchanges) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) began on Oct. 1. ABC鈥檚 Insurance Trust advises that it may be prudent for 老牛影视members to hold off on taking any action.

老牛影视and the Construction Industry Safety Coalition sent letters Sept. 27 to Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels requesting a 90-day extension for submitting written comments related to OSHA鈥檚 proposed crystalline silica rulemaking, whichdrastically lowers the existing permissible exposure limit听for respirable silica in the construction industry.听