2010-2011
Legislative Agenda
Michael Sturino,
IRTBA President and CEO
LaToya Price-Childs
IRTBA Director of Governmental and Public Affairs
Presenters
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
The goal today is to provide you with an executive summary of the concepts that
comprise the 2010 – 2011 legislative agenda
Executive Summary
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
To protect, improve and promote the transportation design and construction industry in Illinois through:
• A dvocacy• B uilding Business• C ommunication• D iversity• E nvironment
Core Purposes
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
Legislative/Regulatory Staff
Michael Sturino………President and CEO
LaToya Price-Childs...Gov. Affairs Director
BethTatro………….…..Dir. of External Programs
Rich Guidice…………..Consulting Lobbyist from Capitol Consulting Group (CCG) of
Illinois
Associates: Jeff Glass, Robert Molaro and Jay Keller
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
Governmental Affairs (GA) Committee
• Develops legislative agenda and priorities
• Determine and communicate association positions
• Encourages member participation in legislative activities
• Provides regular communication to members and IRTBA stakeholders
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
GA Committee Members Jim Wolfe (Chair)
Ken Aldridge (Vice Chair)
• John Bryan • Tim Faerber • Tod Faerber • Charlie Gallagher • Kathi Holst • Gerry Krozel • George Krug • Jennifer Krug
• Britt Lienau • David Lorig • Mike Meagher • Mike Piraino • Dan Plote • Dave Rock • John Smith • Patrick Terrell • Suzanne Zupec
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders ● 2009 Accomplishments
Legislative Agenda Subcommittee Members
Jim Wolfe (Chair)
• Jim Blanusha • John Bryan • Charlie Gallagher • Richard Guidice • Jennifer Krug • Phil Shea
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
What is the Legislative Agenda
1.As a blueprint for IRTBA's policy work
2.A starting point to inform and respond to policy proposals and legislative initiatives
3.As an advocacy training tool
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
IRTBA will continue to refine it’s priorities as issues develop, positions change and as new legislation and regulations are introduced and enacted.
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
Foundation of the Agenda
IRTBA Mission Statement
Guiding Principles
Strategic Plan
Current Issues
Current Policies
Committee Input
Input from the General Membership
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
Priorities
1. Promote Economic Development & Increase Funding
2. Reform the Transportation System
3. Improve Infrastructure
4. Improve the Business Climate
5. Invest in the Workforce
6. Improve the Environment
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
#1: Promote Economic Development & Increase
Funding
“To protec, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
Funding, Funding, Funding
• Illinois is facing a crisis in transportation funding.
• Traditional sources of funding are inadequate, eroding in value, and politically at risk.
• There are shortfalls in the State and Federal Highway Trust Fund.
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
Investment
An investment in Illinois transportation system is an investment in Illinois economic
recovery
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
Supports Increased Funding• Increased, sustainable, and
dedicated funding
• Multi-year Federal Funding Package
• Mandatory Capital Program
• Using leveraged public, private and local funds
• Financing new infrastructure through direct user charges
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
Increasing Gas Tax• 17 years since federal gas
tax increased
• The user fees are not keeping up with increases in construction cost
• IRTBA supports an annual increase on the basis of an index, formula or the inflation rate
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
Support the Development of New Funding Mechanisms
That are constant and sustainable sources of funding.
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
Oppose Diversions
Main Entry: di·ver·sion Pronunciation: di’vərZHən Function: Noun : the act or an instance of diverting: as a : an unauthorized rerouting or appropriation < diversion of funds>
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
Support increasing multimodal funding
• Federal or State highway funding shouldn’t be diverted to support multimodal funding needs.
• Identify freight and passenger transportation corridors by mode and prioritize public investment while not sacrificing the needs of any of the transportation modes.
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
• Utilize technology
• Utilize JCAR process more effectively
• Defining and publishing standards
• Enhancing processes
• Increasing communication & collaboration
#2: Reform and Enhance the Transportation System
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
• Adopting practices that aren’t tailored for the transportation industry.
• Reverse Auctions
• Asset sales and long term leasing
IRTBA Opposes
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
#3: Improve Infrastructure
IRTBA believes that transportation infrastructure is vital to improving life in Illinois
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
Support • Infrastructure Development
• Congestion Relief
• Safety
• Pursuing specific projects
• Utility measures that promote ease of construction
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
#4: Improve the Business Climate
IRTBA supports a increased opportunities in a competitive business environment which does not impose unfair restrictions or advantages to any given group.
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
IRTBA Supports• Opportunities to partner and
engage in dialogue about issues
• Accurately measure capacity
• Efforts to prequalify subcontractors
• Efforts to provide incentives to businesses for increasing DBE/MBE participation
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
IRTBA Supports
• Tort Reform which strives to end frivolous lawsuits
• Contractors protection legislation
• Construction payment bond legislation
• Reforms which decrease workers compensation cost by decreasing abuse of the system and increasing penalties for fraud.
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
IRTBA Opposes
• Card Check Legislation
• IL Wage Preference Acts during periods of high unemployment
• Joint and Several Liability
• Efforts to re-instate the Structural Work Act
• PLA agreements
• Ending prevailing wage exemption for aggregate truckers
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
#5: Investing in the Workforce
• Supports constructive and positive labor environment
• Promotes job creation
• Investment in the workforce safety
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
Expand and Enhance
• Pipelines for entry into the construction industry
• Career ladders in construction• Capacity for state agencies to work with the
unions to help underrepresented populations get jobs in the industry
• Accelerated training programs• Apprenticeship opportunities for
employment
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
#6: Supports Improving the Environment
•Promoting/supporting environmental practices if regulatory action is balanced with public/private resources•Providing incentives/assistance vs. penalties•Eliminating unnecessary and duplicative regulations and streamlined documentation•Supporting Green Jobs
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
Design Green, Build Green, Live Green
• IRTBA was green before being green was in vogue – each year twice as much asphalt is recycled then paper, glass, aluminum combined.
• The IRTBA’s Green Council strives to proactively develop and employ green transportation initiatives and to improve sustainability in infrastructure with sensible implementation policies.
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
Executing the Legislative Agenda
• Educating and Mobilizing Members
• Working with Coalitions
• Public and Community Relations
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
WHY BECOME INVOLVED?
EVERY aspect of your business is affected by some law or regulation EVERY day.
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”
How can you assist?
• Stay informed• Get involved• Participate in legislative and grassroot
briefings and Springfield/DC Fly-Ins• Respond to Calls-for-Action • Assist with site visits• Participate in legislative network to discuss
aspects of legislation• Share the priorities with your colleagues
Illinois Road and Transportation Builders
Your involvement WILL make a difference!
“No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.”
-- Tucker (N.Y., Surr. 1866)
“To protect, improve, and promote the transportation deign and construction industry in Illinois.”