While Labor Day is recognized as a time to celebrate the American worker, this year’s holiday has taken on a more somber tone, especially for those in construction. The unemployment rate for the construction industry is nearly twice the national average, and more than 1.75 million construction workers are out of a job.
Small businesses are the catalyst for creating jobs and economic recovery, yet today’s construction contractors face a dizzying array of obstacles, including burdensome and costly federal regulations and mandates along with high tax rates.
Tax rates could shoot up even higher if Congress fails to extend the 2001 and 2003 tax relief measures, the estate tax and the capital gains tax — leading to one the largest tax increases in U.S. history. In addition, outof- control federal government spending has ballooned our national debt to $13.3 trillion — more than $40,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States.
In order to break out of this dire situation, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) developed a 2010 Job Creation Proposal that will help stimulate the construction industry and put Americans back to work. The proposal includes a wide-ranging package of recommendations, including providing tax relief to small businesses, such as construction contractors, as well as to families and individuals; increasing access to capital; allowing the entire construction workforce to participate in federally funded projects; and enacting a comprehensive national energy plan.
Implementation of ABC’s recommendations will help jumpstart the construction industry during this economic downturn.
Let’s hope that next Labor Day construction workers will have more reasons to celebrate.
David J. Remick,
Milesburg
-- David J. Remick is executive director of the Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc., Central Pennsylvania Chapter.
Letters
Job creation plan
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Unconcerned lawmaker
Republican Representative Kurt Masser's leadership and support of Governor Tom Corbett's agenda have proven to be nothing short of a disaster for everyone from senior citizens to the children statewide and locally.
- Accountability
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Comic relief
Yet again, the Northumberland County commissioners have supplied -- unintentionally I can only hope -- comic relief in these troubled times for our county.
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Belonging here
This morning, as I was leaving the Sunbury Islamic Center with a group of moms and kids from our Sunday school, someone drove by and screamed out their car window to us: "Go back to where you belong."
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Transportation taxes
On May 22, the state House voted on HB 1100. The Democrat-sponsored bill exempted the sale of airplanes, airplane parts and airplane repairs from the 6 percent state sales tax.
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Stepping up for river
I represent a group of 22 retired state Department of Environmental Protection professionals who have more than 600 years of combined service in managing all aspects of the commonwealth's water quality and pollution control programs.
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Catalyst for study
The Susquehanna River, in many ways, unifies our region. Yet this vital ecological and economic engine, and the source of drinking water for millions, has been increasingly showing signs of distress.
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Access to closed school
As a member of the New Berlin Borough Council, I am interested in maintaining access to the New Berlin Elementary School property for the citizens of the New Berlin community.
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Critical period
More than two years ago, Sunbury native Ashley Spotts received a life-saving lung transplant due to cystic fibrosis (CF) and diabetes. Pennsylvania Cystic Fibrosis, Inc. (PACFI) established the Ashley's Angels Transplant Fund to help the family with medical expenses, and area individuals and families responded by donating to the fund and/or having fundraisers.
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Tough to stop a train
To add a bit of perspective to the recent accident in Milton, as well as subsequent reporting and editorial comments, let's keep in mind that a train cannot overcome the immutable laws of physics.
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Unconcerned lawmaker
