ABC members once again can cast their vote to prohibit government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects via a new website called YouCut. Members and interested parties can either vote
online or by texting YouCut1 to 68398.
The
YouCut website, launched May 12 by House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), features a list of projects that would scale back Congressional spending, and invites anyone to vote for the initiative they think should be eliminated. PLAs were featured for the first time on the website in June, but were beaten by Rep. Aaron Schock’s (R-IL) suggestion to prevent millions of federal dollars in waste on signs advertising construction projects that are funded by dollars from the American Recovery and Restoration Act.
The elimination of government-mandated PLAs on federal construction projects, which are encouraged in President Obama’s Executive Order 13502, is listed as the number one option on YouCut for the month of August to potentially be brought to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote after the recess.
Since PLAs have been shown to increase construction costs up to 20 percent, prohibiting the use of PLAs on federal construction projects could save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
“Lawmakers have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure government projects are constructed in the most cost effective manner possible," said Congresswoman Mary Fallin (R-Okla.), who submitted this idea to the YouCut program. "With the federal government facing record deficits and the construction industry already suffering from more than 20 percent unemployment, this is a solution that will eliminate waste and create employment opportunities for skilled and qualified workers.”
According to a
September 2009 study by The Beacon Hill Institute, PLAs significantly increase construction costs on federal projects without adding benefits for taxpayers. The study found that if President Obama’s Executive Order 13502 were in effect in 2008, federal construction costs would have increased by as much as $2.6 billion. Americans can expect greater levels of waste in 2010 and 2011 due to increased construction spending because of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
For more information and to vote for eliminating government-mandated PLAs on federal construction projects, visit the
YouCut website or text YouCut1 to 68398.
You can learn more about government-mandated PLAs and the benefits of this YouCut proposal at
www.TheTruthAboutPLAs.com or
www.facebook.com/TheTruthAboutPLAs.