“Subcontractors need to look beyond the ferocious presidential race to down ballot races and issues,” ASA Chief Advocacy Officer E. Colette Nelson told the board of directors of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry on Sept. 23, 2016. The two major parties are competing for control of 18 state legislative chambers, according to Nelson. Twelve of those chambers currently are held by Republicans; six currently are held by Democrats.
“Many regulations originate at the state and local levels, including licensing, registration, permitting and employee relations,” said Nelson. “And don’t forget about subcontractor-specific issues such as mechanics liens, prompt payment and risk allocation,” she added. Nelson also called the AWCI board’s attention to ballot initiatives around the country. In addition to many state and local ballot initiatives on infrastructure funding:
- Voters in five states—Arizona, Colorado, Maine, South Dakota and Washington—and several major cities will vote on the minimum wage.
- Voters in two states—Alabama and Virginia—will vote on right to work initiatives.
- Voters in Illinois will vote on whether or not to prohibit legislators from using transportation funds for non-transportation related projects.
- Voters in Oregon will vote on a 2.5 percent tax on corporate gross sales over $25 million.
