Too often, the only time lawmakers think seriously about rebuilding our nation's aging and crumbling infrastructure is after a disaster like the collapse of a bridge in Minneapolis or the destruction of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Then a few months later, the issue is pushed back to make way for less-expensive priorities.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced line item vetoes cutting $208 million from the $925 million bonding bill passed by the state Legislature, cuts that labor leaders say also vetoed jobs and opportunity. The bonding bill authorizes the state to borrow funds for capital improvements to public infrastructure throughout the state.

Dick Anfang, president of the Minnesota State Building & Construction Trades Council, said he was "very disappointed" in the governor's announced list of line-item vetoes. "This will negatively affect Minnesota's ability to come back from the recession," he said. "This negatively affects Building Trades workers from the northern border to the southern border and the eastern border to the western border."

 

The proposed expansion of the Mall of America would create 7,000 union construction jobs for three years and, when completed, would yield a $1 billion increase in state sales tax revenues over 20 years, proponents say. For these reasons, they add, the state Legislature should act to approve public financing for the parking ramp proposed as part of the Mall of America's Phase II.

The meeting of the Construction Economics Research Network on December 5 and 6, 2007 addressed the role of immigrant workers in construction. The seminar opened with a presentation by Secretary-Treasurer Sean McGarvey on the Building and Construction Trades Department’s position on immigration legislation.The first panel provided demographic and social background on immigrants and where they worked within the construction sector. The second panel focused on measurement of the economic impact of immigrants on the construction industry. There were several other panel discussions over the two days. You can download several of the papers along with Power Point slides.

Even before the I-35W bridge collapse, leaders across party lines in recent years have been in agreement that Minnesota is 20 years behind in transportation investment. Gov. Tim Pawlenty used that figure as recently as last spring in a Granite Falls speech. So what does that mean in actual dollars?

In Minnesota, we take care of our communities, but we’ve been remarkably shortsighted on transportation. The Twin Cities region has changed dramatically over the past 60 years.

Thanks in part to the National Labor Relations Board, most American workers haven't seen their share of the booming economy. While President Bush points to low unemployment and a resurgent stock market as signs of a strong economy, most Americans don't feel so bullish. Median incomes are flat, healthcare costs are soaring, pensions are being de-funded and corporate employers are threatening to shred the social contract with their employees that has prevailed for 60 years.