Engineering Influence from ACEC

Gas Tax Holiday Won’t Ring up Relief at the Pump

Listen to an audio recording of the editorial penned by ACEC Board Chair, Art Barrett: "Gas Tax Holiday Won't Ring up Relief at the Pump."
Access the editorial on ACEC's Medium page. 
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden called for a gas tax holiday. There’s no doubt consumers need relief. Gas prices have hit a national average of nearly $5.00 per gallon but suspending the gas tax is not a serious approach to lowering prices. It’s a bad idea that would make America’s infrastructure problems worse without helping America’s working families or bringing meaningful relief at the pump.
Experience and data show that suspending the gas tax, also called a user fee, would have little impact on the cost of gasoline. According to budget modeling conducted earlier this year by Penn Wharton, suspending the federal gas tax for ten months from March to December 2022 would save less than $50 per person — between $16 and $47 to be exact. President Biden is proposing a three-month suspension at just a fraction of those already meager savings.
Just a handful of states have taken it upon themselves to pass their own state user fee suspensions, and still there is little bipartisan support in Congress for a federal gas tax holiday. The reason is simple — the state holidays failed to produce the desired effect while their coffers for roadway improvements suffered.
There’s bipartisan agreement that a gas tax holiday is not the right approach. Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) noted, “This policy would at best achieve only minuscule relief while blowing a $10 billion dollar hole in the Highway Trust Fund.” Republican Senator Roger Wicker from Miss., said, “A gas tax holiday would do next to nothing to relieve the pain Americans are feeling at the pump.” This is one of the few issues today that can bring together Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi.
The minimal savings from a gas tax holiday will be temporary and even undercut new infrastructure investment in communities across the country. Infrastructure investment that is critical to restoring economic growth.
User fee revenues at the pump have a direct line of effect on the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund which is dedicated money to improve roads and mass transit. By suspending the gas tax, lawmakers would be further undermining progress on infrastructure improvements, which are already being hampered by inflation in the cost of construction materials and labor.
There are several initiatives the Administration could take but suspending the federal gas tax is not one of them. We need solutions like increasing refining capacity and efficiency along with new sources of oil from North America. Those actions will provide long-term relief and act as the bridge we need to transition to renewable sources of energy.
With rising prices at the pump, elected officials are desperate for ways to show that they are responding to consumers stretched thin by inflation. They are hoping Americans buy into simple soundbites rather than holding elected officials accountable. But Americans deserve better.
Now is the time for action to truly help families keep more of their hard-earned money, not more gimmicks.

A Conversation with Deltek at the 2022 Annual Convention

We sat down with Bret Tushaus, VP of Project Management at Deltek after the 2022 Annual Convention of Legislative Summit to discuss their offerings for the A/E industry when it comes to digital transition and project management for AEC firms.  Visit them at  https://www.deltek.com/en 

The June Economic Update from ACEC

Welcome to ACEC’s June economic update. Each month, ACEC’s Erin McLaughlin analyzes the latest industry data and provides insights for the engineering and design industry. 
Here are the top 4 things you need to know:
Number 1 —
Despite rising interest rates, Housing prices are up 20.6% year-over-year according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index, the most significant year-over year-increase since tracking began in 1987.
Number 2 —
Total design and construction spending was up more than 12% this April, compared to the same time last year, according to the US Census Bureau. It remains driven by private residential spending which up over 18%, and private non-residential up more than 10%.
Number 3 —
The five hottest markets for the first four months of the year are up compared to same time period last year are manufacturing, commercial, residential, conservation and development, sewage and waste disposal.  
Number 4 —
The coolest markets for the first four months of the year are down compared to same time period last year. The five coolest markets are public safety, lodging, religious, educational, transportation — as defined by the Census Bureau which does not include highway and streets.
There you have it. The economic update series is one of ACEC’s resources for media and members.
For a deeper dive, check out the full video on YouTube and all of ACEC’s popular Private Industry Briefs.
To learn more about ACEC’s full slate of private market offerings visit our website at ACEC.org.
Thanks, and we’ll see you again next month.
 
 

A Conversation with Victor Insurance, an Exhibitor at the 2022 Annual Convention and Legislative Summit

We sat down with Victor Insurance, a long time ACEC sponsor and exhibitor to discuss how their services help the A/E marketplace.  Please visit their website to learn more at https://www.victorinsuranceus.com

Why You Need the EJCDC

We sat down with Kevin O'Beirne, National Manage of Engineering Specifications for HDR and the Chair of ACEC's Contract Documents Committee to discuss the Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee (EJCDC®), which produces the highest quality standard documents specifically written for infrastructure projects in the United States. 
EJCDC contract documents are time tested and regularly updated.  As an ACEC member you can purchase these documents at a discounted rate through our bookstore on acec.org.  Learn more about EJCDC here.  

A Conversation with CASE: The Coalition of American Structural Engineers

We sat down with Brent White from ARW Engineers, the outgoing Chair of the Coalition of American Structural Engineers which represents more than 200 structural engineering firms dedicated to making structural engineering a fair, profitable, and robust industry.
CASE offers SEs the opportunity to further develop their businesses through shared best practices, reduced professional liability exposure and increased profitability.
CASE is the recognized authority in the SE industry and the leading provider of risk management and business practice education and information for structural engineering firms.  Learn more about the CASE Coalition here. 

A Conversation with Joe Romano about ACEC’s Coalition of Professional Surveyors

We sat down with Joe Romano with Langan at the 2022 Annual Convention to discuss the Coalition of Professional Surveyors, one of ACEC's seven Coalition groups specifically designed to bring leaders in the built environment together by specialization to share information, best practices and more.  Coalition membership is an important aspect of ACEC membership.  More information on the COPS Coalition can be found below:
Coalition of Professional Surveyors:
 
WHO WE ARERapid change, competitive pressures, and tremendous advancements in technology and software are changing the way professional surveyors do business. COPS represents professional surveying/geospatial engineering firms looking to strengthen the industry image and business environment by advancing quality professional geospatial services – turning challenges into opportunities.
WHAT WE DOCOPS helps members create, maintain, and transform their survey component into a healthy, bottom?line revenue producer. COPS maintains established relationships with both NCEES and NSPS, and represents surveying issues on ACEC’s outreach and advocacy agenda.
WHY YOU SHOULD JOINInformative education sessions tailored to the unique needs of surveying firms – as well as an influential national network of industry leaders and peers – will help to keep you up to date and in the know.
Membership benefits include:
Education sessions and materials specifically tailored to surveying firms
Business practice documents focused on managing and reducing your risk
Issue advocacy with Coalition to Save our GPS
An invaluable network of surveying and geospatial engineering professionals with vast knowledge and experience to uncover new business opportunities, as well as troubleshoot issues and share best practices
Quarterly meetings to share information and ideas
Information sharing forums at the ACEC Annual Convention and Fall Conference
Connect with COPS members online through the COPS LinkedIn group
Free, 24/7 access to the Seven Baselines of Business Practices – our valuable flagship publication

Our Conversation with Nicole Malachowski, first female Thunderbird pilot

Allison Schneider sat down with Nicole Malachowski, a combat veteran and the first female pilot for the Air Force's Thunderbird aerial demonstration team after she spoke at our 2022 Convention and Legislative Summit.  During the conversation, Nicole discussed leadership, the importance of the "wingman contract" and how it extends to  engineering firms and more.