Events

We would like to thank U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation John Porcari for addressing the 11^th annual conference of the National Association of State Highway and Transportation Unions (NASHTU) on April 27^th, in Washington D.C.

View the 11th NASHTU Conference Highlights

NASHTU 11th Annual Conference

Please call 916-446-0584 or email nashtu@nashtu.us if you have any questions.

Click here for previous NASHTU Conference Highlights

OMB Cracks Down on Wasteful Outsourcing

June 14, 2010

Read Representative Judy Chu’s (D-CA) letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) asking that the federal contracting reforms be expanded to apply to all state and local projects that use federal funds   

March 31, 2010

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) released its draft policy letter defining inherently governmental functions that should be performed only by government employees.  Read the Federal Register Notice

October 27, 2009

WASHINGTON, October 27 – In an attempt to crack down on mismanaged and wasteful federal contracting practices while strengthening oversight and accountability capacity across the government, the Obama Administration has issued guidance today that requires federal agencies to increase the capability and capacity of the civilian agency acquisition workforce to ensure sufficient management and oversight of acquisition dollars.

The guidance also provides specific instructions for agencies to avoid high-risk contracts that can result in excessive costs being passed on to taxpayers.

• OMB Contracting Reforms Press Release (October 27, 2009)

• Plan to Increase Capability and Capacity of the Civilian Agency Acquisition Workforce

• Guidance on Increasing Competition

July 29, 2009

WASHINGTON, July 29 — President Obama in conjunction with the OMB formally unveiled contracting and workforce reforms that are designed to save the taxpayers at least $40 billion a year. The reforms, released today, focuses on three areas: improving acquisition, managing the multi-sector workforce, and contractor performance information.

"Today’s guidance is a major step forward in providing the federal government with the capacity to carry out robust and thorough management and oversight of its contracts in order to achieve programmatic goals, avoid significant overcharges, and stop wasteful spending," said OMB Director Peter Orszag.

• OMB Contracting Reforms Press Release (July 29, 2009)

• Improving Government Acquisition

• Managing the Multi-Sector Workforce

• Contractor Performance Information

March 4, 2009

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Wednesday the U.S. government was paying too much for things it did not need and ordered a crackdown on spending he declared "plagued by massive cost overruns and outright fraud."

The Democrat, under fire from Republicans for the $3.5 trillion price tag for his 2010 budget plan, also took aim at predecessor George W. Bush and noted the cost of government contracts had doubled to more than half a trillion dollars over the past eight years. 

Click here to read the Presidential Memorandum

NASHTU Sponsored Legislation

H.R. 2104 - the Safety, Efficiency and Accountability in Transportation Projects through Public Inspection Act of 2009

• HR 2104 - Text of Bill

• HR 2104 - One Page Fact Sheet

• HR 2104 - Disaster Examples

• HR 2104 - Support Letter from Union

• HR 2104 - Co-sponsorship Request Letter from Union

• Bill Summary and Status from the Library of Congress Website

Click here to view previous sponsored legislation

News Stories

• Budget Office Sees Highway Fund Secure to 2013

  September 1, 2010 (Journal of Commerce) Washington D.C. -- The Congressional Budget Office is drawing the attention of transportation policy experts with an upbeat estimate that the nation’s Highway Trust Fund should be able to cover its projected spending needs into fiscal 2013. Click here to read article.

   

• Firm to pay $52.4m in Minn. bridge collapse

  August 24, 2010 (The Boston Globe) MINNEAPOLIS -- After enduring countless surgeries and hours of court hearings, victims of the deadly 2007 Interstate 35W bridge collapse reached the end of their legal fight after an engineering firm agreed to pay $52.4 million to settle scores of lawsuits. Click here to read article.

   

• URS Agrees to Pay $52.4M To Settle Claims From Minn. Bridge Collapse

  August 23, 2010 (Engineering News-Record) MINNEAPOLIS -- For victims and survivors of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, the legal odyssey ended Monday with the announcement that engineering giant URS Corp. agreed to pay $52.4 million to settle claims from the 2007 disaster that claimed 13 lives and injured 145.  Click here to read the article.

   

• Voinovich Looks to Secure Jobs Before Retiring

  July 27, 2010 (Ideastream.com) - Ohio Republican Senator George Voinovich is pushing for quick reauthorization of the surface transportation bill that he says will create thousands of jobs for Ohioans. ideastream®'s Bill Rice reports, Voinovich hopes the bill can be passed before he leaves office in January.  Click here to read full story.

   

• Obama Nixes Gas Hike, Fees

  July 26, 2010 (The Bond Buyer) - The Obama administration is opposed to a gasoline tax increase or mileage fee to generate revenue for the next multi-year transportation bill, but would support a number of public and private options including bond-related financing, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Friday.  Click here to read full story.

   

• LaHood Says No Fuel Tax Increase Needed for Transport

  July 23, 2010 (The Journal of Commerce) -- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said a combination of current-level gas tax receipts, road and bridge tolling and President Obama’s proposed infrastructure fund could offer a way to fund a long-term federal infrastructure program without new taxes. Click here to read article.

   

• House Appropriations Subcommittee Approves $4 Billion Increase in Highway Funding 

  July 2, 2010 (AASHTO Journal) - Federal-aid highway projects would see a $4 billion funding boost for Fiscal Year 2011 under legislation passed Thursday by the House transportation appropriations subcommittee. Click here to read article.

   

• VOINOVICH SOLICITS OBAMA TO HELP PASS HIGHWAY BILL

  June 22, 2010 (The Columbus Dispatch) - Sen. George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio, welcomed President Barack Obama to Ohio on Friday -- but had a small request. Click here to read article.

   

• OBERSTAR POINTS TO ROAD PROBLEM:  A SHORTAGE OF FEDERAL GAS-TAX REVENUE

  June 17, 2010 (MinnPost.com) - The problem is simple, says Rep. Jim Oberstar, who chairs the House Transportation Committee: There simply isn't enough money coming in through the federal gas tax right now to meet the nation's current needs for road and bridge repairs. Click here to read article.

   

• THE FEDERAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM GETS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE

  March 25, 2010 (Innovation Newbriefs) - The HIRE Act (Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act, H.R. 2847, P.L 111-147), signed by the President on March 18, has placed the federal surface transportation program on a firm footing and taken the pressure off the lawmakers and the White House to come up with a more permanent solution — at least for a while. While efforts to develop a long-term transportation strategy are expected to continue for the remainder of this year, Congress and the White House are likely to take their time enacting a multi-year legislation. This is the near-unanimous judgment of informed congressional observers and Washington insiders whom we consulted over the last several days.  Click here to read article.