ABC-VA Blog

On Capitol Hill

 

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination to the Senate floor. The vote went forward even though the Democrats boycotted the meeting — part of an effort to denounce Republicans’ confirmation drive as illegitimate coming just days before the presidential election. The full Senate is expected to hold a final vote on Barrett's nomination on Monday.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/22/senate-judiciary-committee-approves-amy-coney-barretts-supreme-court-nomination-431160

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin picked-up discussions again today for a Phase 4 relief package with time running ever shorter for a deal before the election. The two sides “are better prepared to reach compromise on several priorities” after yesterday’s call between the main negotiators, a Pelosi spokesman tweeted. Pelosi and Mnuchin are still resolving “open questions” on the $2 trillion dollar deal, including liability concerns and funding for state and local governments.

Leader McConnell has made no promises on when the Senate might take up any compromise agreement, and some senior GOP lawmakers expressed skepticism whether the chamber would vote on one even after the election.

Biden, Trump Face Off in Final Debate

President Trump and Joe Biden will square off for 90 minutes in their final debate tonight.  In one of the last potential turning points of the 2020 election, both men will seek to improve their performances at 9 p.m. ET. 

The debate, at Belmont University in Nashville, will have one twist - moderators will now mute each candidate while the other gives his initial two-minute response on each topic.

*Please see attached WSJ piece on the PRO Act.

 

INCYMI:

ABC’s Free Enterprise Alliance Announces Million-dollar Issue Advocacy Ad Buy:

 

Official Press Release

 

ABC’s Free Enterprise Alliance today announced a million-dollar issue ad buy in 25 states nationwide. The advocacy campaign, which includes digital ads and mailers, will educate constituents on the dangers of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, highlight benefits of the Paycheck Protection Program and encourage voting in the upcoming election. The surround sound campaign will run through Election Day, Nov. 3.

 

The ads outline the negative implications of the ABC-opposed PRO Act, legislation that was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 6 and remains a priority for Democrats.  Earlier this year Joe Biden released the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force Recommendations campaign document, in which he vows to prioritize passing the PRO Act (H.R. 2474). If signed into law, the PRO Act will overturn freedom of choice in all existing right-to-work states, take away a worker’s right to a secret union ballot and eliminate the ability for workers to pursue independent contracting opportunities.

 

FEA will encourage constituents to tell members of Congress to oppose the PRO Act, running digital ads in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. Ads directed toward the following representatives are now live: Sens. Peters (R-Mich.) and Jones (D-Ala.) and Reps. Slotkin (Mich.-08), Stevens (Mich-11), Shalala (Fla.-27), Davids (Kan. 03), Luria (Va. 02), Spanberger (Va.-07), Lee (Nev.-03), Casten (Ill.-06), Underwood (Ill.-14), Golden (Maine-02), Crow (Colo.-06), Craig (Minn.02), Phillips (Minn.-03), Pappas (N.H.-01), Cartwright (Pa.-08), Lamb (Pa.-17), Rose (N.Y.-11), Brindisi (N.Y.-22), Kind (Wisc.-03), Ryan (Ohio-13), O’Halleran (Ariz. 01), Kirkpatrick (Ariz.-02), Cisneros (Calif.-39), Porter (Calif.-45), Rouda (Calif.-48), Kim (N.J.-03), Malinowski (N.J.-07), Torres Small (N.M.-02), Allred (Texas-31), Wild (Pa.-07), Axne (Iowa-03), Fletcher (Texas-07), Mucarsel-Powell (Fla.-26), Peterson (Minn.-07) and Finkenauer (Iowa-01).

 

The multi-faceted campaign also aims to educate ABC members about the job-saving Paycheck Protection Program, that will speed America’s return to widespread prosperity. The PPP program is a vital lifeline for small businesses, including the more than 177,000 in the U.S. construction industry, ensuring access to the liquidity and resources needed to remain in business and provide pay and benefits for hardworking employees.  FEA will urge constituents to contact the following Senators and Representatives who supported PPP across digital and mail ads: Sens. McSally (R-Ariz.), Gardner (R.-Colo.), Tillis (R-N.C.), McConnell (R-Ky.), Perdue (R.-Ga.), Ernst (R-Iowa), Collins (R-Maine), Cornyn (R-Texas), Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Rep. Marshall (Kan.-01).

 

Lastly, FEA will use digital and mail ads to encourage Americans in Minnesota, Florida and Pennsylvania to get out and vote in this upcoming election, prioritizing issues of free enterprise.

 

The work of FEA is made possible by ABC’s generous members and donors. For more information on how you can get involved and help expand FEA’s issue advocacy footprint, contact Melanie Pfeiffenberger at pfeiffenberger@abc.org.

ABC’s Free Enterprise Alliance Announces Million-dollar Issue Advocacy Ad Buy:

 

Official Press Release

 

ABC’s Free Enterprise Alliance today announced a million-dollar issue ad buy in 25 states nationwide. The advocacy campaign, which includes digital ads and mailers, will educate constituents on the dangers of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, highlight benefits of the Paycheck Protection Program and encourage voting in the upcoming election. The surround sound campaign will run through Election Day, Nov. 3.

 

The ads outline the negative implications of the ABC-opposed PRO Act, legislation that was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 6 and remains a priority for Democrats.  Earlier this year Joe Biden released the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force Recommendations campaign document, in which he vows to prioritize passing the PRO Act (H.R. 2474). If signed into law, the PRO Act will overturn freedom of choice in all existing right-to-work states, take away a worker’s right to a secret union ballot and eliminate the ability for workers to pursue independent contracting opportunities.

 

FEA will encourage constituents to tell members of Congress to oppose the PRO Act, running digital ads in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. Ads directed toward the following representatives are now live: Sens. Peters (R-Mich.) and Jones (R-Ala.) and Reps. Slotkin (Mich.-08), Stevens (Mich-11), Shalala (Fla.-27), Davids (Kan. 03), Luria (Va. 02), Spanberger (Va.-07), Lee (Nev.-03), Casten (Ill.-06), Underwood (Ill.-14), Golden (Maine-02), Crow (Colo.-06), Craig (Minn.02), Phillips (Minn.-03), Pappas (N.H.-01), Cartwright (Pa.-08), Lamb (Pa.-17), Rose (N.Y.-11), Brindisi (N.Y.-22), Kind (Wisc.-03), Ryan (Ohio-13), O’Halleran (Ariz. 01), Kirkpatrick (Ariz.-02), Cisneros (Calif.-39), Porter (Calif.-45), Rouda (Calif.-48), Kim (N.J.-03), Malinowski (N.J.-07), Torres Small (N.M.-02), Allred (Texas-31), Wild (Pa.-07), Axne (Iowa-03), Fletcher (Texas-07), Mucarsel-Powell (Fla.-26), Peterson (Minn.-07) and Finkenauer (Iowa-01).

 

The multi-faceted campaign also aims to educate ABC members about the job-saving Paycheck Protection Program, that will speed America’s return to widespread prosperity. The PPP program is a vital lifeline for small businesses, including the more than 177,000 in the U.S. construction industry, ensuring access to the liquidity and resources needed to remain in business and provide pay and benefits for hardworking employees.  FEA will urge constituents to contact the following Senators and Representatives who supported PPP across digital and mail ads: Sens. McSally (R-Ariz.), Gardner (R.-Colo.), Tillis (R-N.C.), McConnell (R-Ky.), Perdue (R.-Ga.), Ernst (R-Iowa), Collins (R-Maine), Cornyn (R-Texas), Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Rep. Marshall (Kan.-01).

 

Lastly, FEA will use digital and mail ads to encourage Americans in Minnesota, Florida and Pennsylvania to get out and vote in this upcoming election, prioritizing issues of free enterprise.

 

The work of FEA is made possible by ABC’s generous members and donors. For more information on how you can get involved and help expand FEA’s issue advocacy footprint, contact Melanie Pfeiffenberger at pfeiffenberger@abc.org.

 

 

COVID-19 Relief Negotiations Continue as Senate Votes on Targeted Package:

 

House Speaker Pelosi sent a letter last night to her colleagues which said that the self-imposed Tuesday deadline to reach a COVID-19 relief deal: “enabled us to see that decisions could be reached” and that “both sides are serious about finding a compromise.” House committee chairs have been deputized to work out some remaining points to be resolved on the elusive package ranging from $2.2 to 1.8 Trillion.  

 

Even if a deal manages to come together between House and White House negotiators, it wouldn’t be guaranteed to receive attention in the Senate as, there is less room for compromise in the upper chamber.  Majority Leader McConnell has teed up a vote this afternoon on a $500 Billion targeted COVID-19 relief package, which mirrors the targeted ABC-supported S. 178 (Section by Section) bill that failed to advance in the Senate in September. Just as the procedural vote failed on stand-alone PPP funding bill yesterday, the relatively larger bill that will be voted on today is not expected to gain the 60 votes needed to pass in the Senate. After today’s vote, the Senate will move to begin the confirmation process of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, beginning with the Senate Judiciary Committee vote tomorrow and final confirmation vote early next week.

 

 

ABC CEO Mike Bellaman Op-Ed - What's at Stake for Construction in the 2020 Elections:

 

In an Op-Ed posted today in Construction Business Owner, ABC CEO Mike Bellaman, highlighted what is at stake for the construction industry in the 2020 elections. In the piece, Bellaman noted the importance of key issues such as: rebuilding America’s infrastructure through fair and open competition, the ABC-opposed Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, and expanding workforce development opportunities.

 

Read the full Op-Ed here: https://www.constructionbusinessowner.com/popular-now/op-ed-whats-stake-construction-2020-elections

 

 

OSHA Issues FAQs on N95 Respirator Effectiveness Against Coronavirus:

 

On Oct. 19, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration published a set of Frequently Asked Questions on the effectiveness of N95 respirators against coronavirus exposure as part of the agency’s COVID-19 FAQs page.

 

According to an OSHA news release, the agency is aware of incorrect claims stating that N95 respirators do not capture particles as small as the virus that causes the coronavirus, and OSHA’s new FAQ explains why an N95 respirator is effective at protecting users from the virus.

 

In addition to these new FAQs, OSHA recently issued frequently asked questions and answers regarding the need to report employees’ in-patient hospitalizations and fatalities resulting from work-related cases of the coronavirus.

 

Additional coronavirus resources can be found on the OSHA website.

 

 

OFCCP Launches Landing Page Related to Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping

 

On Oct. 21, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs announced that it has launched a landing page for Executive Order 13950, Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, which was issued on Sept. 22 by President Trump. According to OFCCP, while the order took effect immediately, federal contractors’ specific requirements apply only to federal contracts entered into beginning November 21, 2020.

 

The following resources are available on the new landing page:

• Frequently Asked Questions  
• Request for Information – OFCCP issued an RFI asking for public comment about federal contractor and subcontractor training, workshops, or similar programming provided to employees.
• Hotline - Employees can file complaints regarding training programs that they believe violate Executive Order 13950 at OFCCPComplaintHotline@dol.gov or 202-343-2008. OFCCP will investigate complaints following its standard complaint procedures, as detailed in the Federal Contract Compliance Manual.

 

Additional compliance assistance resources are available on OFCCP’s website at www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/compliance-assistance.

 

 

State Legislative COVID-19 Relief Efforts Article:

 

As states have continued to hold special legislative sessions or continuations of their regular sessions through the summer and into the fall, many are taking significant action through various grant programs and other financial vehicles to alleviate the economic effects of COVID-19 on the small business sector. This article contains a comprehensive roundup of where these efforts stand around the country. ABC National’s State Affairs team will continue tracking these bills and are available to assist in supporting them and helping your members take advantage of the subsequent tools at their disposal where successfully passed and made available.

 

 

TOMORROW - ABC’s Election Briefing Series FEA Featuring National Republican Senatorial Committee:

 

Tomorrow, ABC will continue its Election Briefing Series with a National Update featuring Kevin McLoughlin, Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee at 3:00 p.m. Eastern.

 

These updates are a part of the ABC Election Update Series, which is powered by the Free Enterprise Alliance. It is reserved for ABC members and registration is free of charge thanks to our generous sponsors.

 

Register here for this complimentary event: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4032543964631545104

Senate Voting on COVID-19 Relief Bills:

 

Yesterday afternoon, the Senate voted on a bill titled Continuing Paycheck Protection Program Act, which would have provided additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), allowed qualified small business to access the loan program a second time, and included certain 501C(6) organizations. The bill was not agreed to by a vote of 57-40 after receiving only 4 Democratic votes.

 

On the heels of the defeat of the targeted PPP bill, Senate Republicans plan to bring a separate targeted COVID-19 relief bill up for a vote on tomorrow which includes roughly $500 billion in funding for schools, federal unemployment insurance, funds for vaccine distribution, and liability protection. Senate Republicans will head to the floor tomorrow seek to pass the bill which mirrors the targeted ABC-supported S. 178 (Section by Section) bill that was considered in September. Senate Democrats are expected again to block the advancement of the bill, maintaining their stance that targeted relief bills are inadequate to meet the needs of the pandemic, holding out for a sweeping deal instead. Should the bill be defeated, the Senate is likely to focus exclusively on the confirmation of Judge Amy Cony Barrett until she is confirmed early next week.

 

In separate COVID-19 relief negotiations, there are still “open items” between the White House and House Speaker Pelosi, but negotiations today were reportedly productive and will continue, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said on CNBC. Separately, Speaker Pelosi told reporters, when asked whether she thinks there can be a deal by the end of the week: “I hope so. That’s the plan.”

 

 

SBA, Treasury Issue Revisions to PPP Procedures:

 

On Oct. 19, the U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of the Treasury issued an interim final rule with additional revisions to the Paycheck Protection Program’s loan forgiveness and loan review procedures. As part of these revisions, SBA is issuing an alternative Loan Forgiveness Application, SBA Form 3508S, for use by PPP borrowers applying for loan forgiveness on PPP loans with a total loan amount of $50,000 or less, except for those borrowers that together with their affiliates received loans totaling $2 million or greater.

 

According to an SBA news release, this action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Additionally, as part of this rulemaking, SBA and Treasury have also eased the burden on PPP lenders, allowing lenders to process forgiveness applications more swiftly.

 

More information on the IFR can be found on the SBA website. ABC has followed the implementation and additional revisions to the PPP and submitted comments on a previous rulemaking related to the program.

 

 

TOMORROW - ABC Members and Chapter Staff Only Webinar: ABC’s Fight Against Government-mandated Project Labor Agreements–A 2020 Update:

 

Get the latest update about ABC’s fight for fair and open competition against government-mandated project labor agreements. Participants will receive an overview of the contentious PLA issue and learn about the current status of federal and state policies on government-mandated PLAs and how the 2020 election outcome will shape future policies impacting the ability of merit shop contractors to compete on a level playing field to win public works contracts. Hear insights about a variety of ABC resources and legal, public relations and grassroots tactics ABC members, contractor employees and chapter leaders can utilize to become effective advocates for the merit shop contracting community in our continued fight for fair and open competition.

 

The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at 3 p.m. EDT  and will include speakers Ben Brubeck, Brandon Ray and Nick Steingart from ABC National’s Government Affairs team and ABC General Counsel Maury Baskin.  More information on the webinar and registration is available here.

 

 

THURSDAY - ABC’s Election Briefing Series FEA Featuring National Republican Senatorial Committee:

 

ABC will continue its Election Briefing Series with a National Update featuring Kevin McLoughlin, Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee at 3:00 p.m. Eastern on Thursday.

 

These updates are a part of the ABC Election Update Series, which is powered by the Free Enterprise Alliance. It is reserved for ABC members and registration is free of charge thanks to our generous sponsors.

 

Register here for this complimentary event: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4032543964631545104

Federal Legislative Update:

 

As the Senate prepares a vote Wednesday on a COVID-19 relief bill similar to one it took up in September, which was a more “targeted” package focusing on PPP and Liability relief, across Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin are still trying to hash out disagreements over their own deal, but as the House and White House negotiators continue to meet, they remain relatively far apart. Speaker Pelosi said on Sunday that if a deal is to be done before the election, “it would have to be in the next 24 hours.”

 

Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee will meet at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22^nd to vote on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court. The committee, led by Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) will almost certainly send the nomination to the floor with a “favorable” recommendation, needing only a simple majority vote to advance the nomination to the full Senate. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced last week that he would put the nomination on the floor as early as Friday, Oct. 23. Senate Democrats will reportedly try to filibuster the floor proceedings, although it is clear that the process can not be stopped completely, only delayed into the weekend or early next week.

 

 

SBA Flags Potential Phishing Scam Targeting PPP Borrowers:

 

Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) sent an email describing an email scam originating from “sba-attorneys.com” that seeks to create alarm among PPP loan borrowers. The email falsely warns that PPP funds were issued to the recipient in error, and that immediate action must be taken to avoid "potential criminal liability." If you receive such an email, consider marking the item as SPAM and deleting it from your inbox. Under no circumstances should you reply to the sender or click on any of the message's embedded links (all of which have been removed here for your protection.

 

 

DOL Issues Proposal on Labor Organization Financial Disclosure Reports:

 

On Oct. 13, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards issued a proposed rule to provide additional information to labor organization members and the public about the financial activities of labor organizations under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959. According to a DOL news release, the proposal, officially titled Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports: LM Form Revisions, would revise Form LM-2, which labor organizations use to report their financial conditions and operations. Additionally, the proposal would introduce a new enhanced LM-2 Long Form for labor organizations with annual receipts of $8,000,000 or more.

 

Additional information on Form LM-2 and the LMRDA can be found on the DOL website. The public can submit written comments on this proposed rule on or before Dec. 14, 2020. The ABC-led Coalition for a Democratic Workplace plans to submit comments on the DOL proposal.

 

ABC will continue to provide updates on this rulemaking in Newsline.

 

 

TODAY - Exclusive Donor Briefing: 2020 Political Engagement:

 

You are invited to an exclusive webinar Monday, Oct. 19, at 4:30 p.m. EDT. Please join our ABC National political team as we dive into the political engagement strategy for 2020. Topics include fundraising updates, the Free Enterprise Alliance issue advocacy campaign, ABC PAC spending, state investments and more.

 

Exclusive Donor Briefing: 2020 Political Engagement

Monday, Oct. 19

4:30-5:30 p.m. EDT

REGISTER HERE

 

 

WEDNESDAY - ABC Members and Chapter Staff Only Webinar: ABC’s Fight Against Government-mandated Project Labor Agreements–A 2020 Update:

 

Get the latest update about ABC’s fight for fair and open competition against government-mandated project labor agreements. Participants will receive an overview of the contentious PLA issue and learn about the current status of federal and state policies on government-mandated PLAs and how the 2020 election outcome will shape future policies impacting the ability of merit shop contractors to compete on a level playing field to win public works contracts. Hear insights about a variety of ABC resources and legal, public relations and grassroots tactics ABC members, contractor employees and chapter leaders can utilize to become effective advocates for the merit shop contracting community in our continued fight for fair and open competition.

 

The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at 3 p.m. EDT  and will include speakers Ben Brubeck, Brandon Ray and Nick Steingart from ABC National’s Government Affairs team and ABC General Counsel Maury Baskin.  More information on the webinar and registration is available here.

 

 

10/21 Chapter Webinar: Collecting Workforce Data to Enhance Chapter Advocacy and Safety Efforts:

 

ABC chapter presidents, government affairs directors and chapter staff are invited to join market leader and ABC member Field Control Analytics, ABC Empire State President Brian Sampson and ABC National staff to explore technology that can capture labor data that can:

 

• Assist ABC members with their safety practices during COVID-19 and beyond
• Provide ABC members with critical workforce labor reports
• Take advantage of workforce demographics data for use in political advocacy efforts, as was recently done by the Empire State Chapter

 

Chapters covering blue states and localities are strongly encouraged to attend this webinar, at 11AM EDT on Wednesday, October 21, to learn how to leverage this technology to aid political advocacy efforts. Register here.

COVID Relief Negotiations Continue Amid Higher Jobless Claims:

 

This morning, the Department of Labor reported 898,000 Americans filed for new unemployment claims last week, up 53,000 from the previous week. Continuing claims fell by 1.1 million to just over 10 million. On the heels of this report, President Trump reiterated his support for a COVID relief bill. With the election about 19 days away, theirs is a reported sense of urgency to get a deal done at least when it comes to White House and Democratic negotiators, as the larger-relief-package-averse U.S. Senate is currently tied up in the SCOTUS confirmation process.   

 

However, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin threw some doubt on the White House negotiators side saying today “At this point, getting something done before the election and executing on that will be difficult.” Secretary Mnuchin and Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke again today for an hour (as they have every day this week), but lawmakers and senior aides are increasingly acknowledging that drafting and passing a trillion-dollar-plus bill in the next 20 days is all but impossible and at best is a long-shot. Further complicating matters is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s Tuesday pledge to hold a vote on new funding for the Payment Protection Program when the Senate returns the week of Oct. 19.

 

 

Senate on Track to Confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett Before Election:

 

With the Senate Judiciary Committee lined up to vote and advance Judge Barrett’s nomination next week on Oct. 22, the full Senate is likely to vote by end of month. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said today that he expects Judge Barrett’s nomination will be on the Senate floor starting Friday, Oct. 23, and added that the Republican caucus has the he votes to confirm her to the Supreme court before the election.

 

 

EPA Announces Expedited Pathway for Companies to Claim Efficacy for Antiviral Products: 

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday released draft guidance in an effort to ensure Americans have access to as many tools as possible to clean and disinfect surfaces and protect themselves from the coronavirus. The draft guidance released by the Agency will allow companies to demonstrate that their products have "long-lasting" or "residual" effectiveness on surfaces. 

 

Traditional disinfectants only kill viruses and bacteria that are on the surface at the time they are used, while surfaces treated with residual antimicrobial products kill pathogens on surfaces for days, weeks, or years after the product is applied. The EPA will immediately begin expediting the registration process for these products and may revise the guidance after the 60-day public comment period ends. 

 

Some additional information is here.

 

 

Two Separate Presidential Candidate Town Halls Tonight:

 

Tonight, on what would have been the second out of three Presidential debates, President Trump and Joe Biden will appear at dueling, simultaneous televised forums on starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Biden will be hosted by ABC News in a forum held at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia moderated by ABC’s chief news anchor, George Stephanopoulos while President Trump will be hosted by NBC News in an outdoors event at the Pérez Art Museum in Miami moderated by the “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie.

 

 

MONDAY - Exclusive Donor Briefing: 2020 Political Engagement for ABC PAC & FEA Contributors Only:

 

On Monday, Oct. 19 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern, the ABC National Political team will be hosting a webinar for all ABC PAC and FEA contributors highlighting ABC’s 2020 political engagement including: PAC and FEA fundraising updates, FEA’s 2020 issue advocacy campaigns, and ABC PAC and state investments. ABC PAC and FEA contributors can register using this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3344986361070052621

 

 

Recorded Webinar on the Latest Updates on DOL’s COVID-19 Paid Leave and Other Hot Topics:

 

On Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, ABC and ABC General Counsel Maury Baskin discussed how the revised FFCRA guidance impacts construction contractors and chapters on a webinar that is now available on ABC’s Academy for Construction Ethics, Compliance and Best Practices site, which is restricted to ABC members in management positions and chapter staff. The materials included in the Academy are intended for and limited to members of management. In order to receive log-in information and gain access to the password-protected site, the request must come from an ABC member in a management position or Chapter Staff* via the online Academy Login Request Form.

Senate Issues Update on COVID-19 Relief Strategy Amid Pressure From Executive Branch:

 

This morning, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement vowing to hold a vote on new funding for the Payment Protection Program when the Senate returns the week of Oct. 19. McConnell said: “When the full Senate returns on October 19th, our first order of business will be voting again on targeted relief for American workers, including new funding for the PPP. Unless Democrats block this aid for workers, we will have time to pass it before we proceed as planned to the pending Supreme Court nomination as soon as it is reported by the Judiciary Committee.”

 

This statement comes after Treasury Sec. Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows urged Congress to come together on a coronavirus stimulus package in a letter sent Sunday. House Speaker Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin have renewed meetings, and are reportedly exchanging offers on some of the remaining issues. Given the President’s willingness to support a larger stimulus, revenue would be available to resolve most of the Speaker’s issues centering on families, healthcare, and schools.  This suggests the biggest remaining issues are protections from legal liability related to COVID-19, and funds for state and local governments. It remains unclear if Leader McConnell will accept any package that is around the 1.6-2 Trillion price tag, which is the range being discussed between Speaker Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin.

 

 

TOMORROW - Latest Updates on DOL's COVID-19 Paid Leave and Other Hot Topics Webinar:

 

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 14

Time: 1 p.m. EDT

Speaker: Maury Baskin, Littler Mendelson P.C.

 

On Aug. 3, an Obama-appointed federal judge in New York nullified key sections of the U.S. Department of Labor’s rules governing paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Following the court decision, on Sept. 11, the DOL revised its guidance that restricted paid leave during layoffs and furloughs, required employer consent to paid intermittent leave and required employees to provide documentation before taking leave. ABC General Counsel Maury Baskin will discuss how the revised FFCRA guidance impacts construction contractors and chapters.

 

Register today.

 

 

ABC Members and Chapter Staff Webinar: ABC’s Fight Against Government-mandated Project Labor Agreements–A 2020 Update:

 

Get the latest update about ABC’s fight for fair and open competition against government-mandated project labor agreements. Participants will receive an overview of the contentious PLA issue and learn about the current status of federal and state policies on government-mandated PLAs and how the 2020 election outcome will shape future policies impacting the ability of merit shop contractors to compete on a level playing field to win public works contracts. Hear insights about a variety of ABC resources and legal, public relations and grassroots tactics ABC members, contractor employees and chapter leaders can utilize to become effective advocates for the merit shop contracting community in our continued fight for fair and open competition.

 

The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at 3 p.m. EDT  and will include speakers Ben Brubeck, Brandon Ray and Nick Steingart from ABC National’s Government Affairs team and ABC General Counsel Maury Baskin.  More information on the webinar and registration is available here.

SBA and Treasury Announce Simpler PPP Forgiveness for Loans of $50,000 or Less

Late last week - the SBA, in consultation with the Treasury Department, today released a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

“The PPP has provided 5.2 million loans worth $525 billion to American small businesses, providing critical economic relief and supporting more than 51 million jobs,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.  “Today’s action streamlines the forgiveness process for PPP borrowers with loans of $50,000 or less and thousands of PPP lenders who worked around the clock to process loans quickly,” he continued.  “We are committed to making the PPP forgiveness process as simple as possible while also protecting against fraud and misuse of funds.  We continue to favor additional legislation to further simplify the forgiveness process.”

“Nothing will stop the Trump Administration from supporting great American businesses and our great American workers. The Paycheck Protection Program has been an overwhelming success and served as a historic lifeline to America’s hurting small businesses and tens of millions of workers. The new form introduced today demonstrates our relentless commitment to using every tool in our toolbelt to help small businesses and the banks that have participated in this program,” said Administrator Jovita Carranza. “We are continuing to ensure that small businesses are supported as they recover.”

SBA and Treasury have also eased the burden on PPP lenders, allowing lenders to process forgiveness applications more swiftly.  

SBA began approving PPP forgiveness applications and remitting forgiveness payments to PPP lenders for PPP borrowers on October 2, 2020.  SBA will continue to process all PPP forgiveness applications in an expeditious manner.

Click here to view the simpler loan forgiveness application.

Click here to view the instructions for completing the simpler loan forgiveness application.

Click here to view the Interim Final Rule on the simpler forgiveness process for loans of $50,000 or less.

 

 

Judge Amy Coney Barrett SCOTUS Hearings Begin:

 

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee kicked off a four-day hearing agenda on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The in personal and virtual hybrid style hearings can be viewed via the Senate Judiciary Committee website, as well as C-SPAN and other major news outlets.

 

The hearing today focused on opening statements for the committee, and the rest of the week will follow the general past template of four days of committee action- beginning at 9 a.m. each day. The full schedule can be accessed here:

 

• Monday, October 12, 9 am: Opening Statements -- Judge Barrett and Senators
• Tuesday, October 13, 9 am: Senators Q/A with Judge Barrett
• Wednesday, October 14, 9 am: Senators Q/A with Judge Barrett
• Thursday, October 15, 9 am: Testimony and Q/A with outside witnesses

 

The hearings come 22 days before the election, with Senate Republicans intent on confirming Judge Barrett to the court before the election. Not surprisingly - the partisan battle lines have been clearly drawn. In opening speeches, Republican senators praised Barrett's judicial qualifications in glowing terms and emphasized her capability while Democrats warned that health care protections and the Affordable Care Act are at stake if the confirmation succeeds.

 

 

DOL Establishes Hotline Related to Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping

 

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs issued a press release stating it has launched a hotline and email address to receive and investigate complaints under existing Executive Order 11246 as well as Executive Order 13950, Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, issued by President Trump.

 

The new OFCCP Complaint Hotline to Combat Race and Sex Stereotyping can be reached at 202-343-2008 or via email at OFCCPComplaintHotline@dol.gov.

 

The order, published on Sept. 22, states, “It shall be the policy of the United States not to promote race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating in the federal workforce or in the uniformed services, and not to allow grant funds to be used for these purposes. In addition, federal contractors will not be permitted to inculcate such views in their employees.”

 

The order enables employees to file complaints alleging that a federal contractor “is utilizing training programs in violation of the contractor’s obligations under those orders.” Learn more in the DOL press release.

 

 

ABC Announces Dec. 3 Virtual Conference – Election 2020 and the Merit Shop: ABC’s Legal and Policy Forecast Conference 

 

ABC members and chapter staff and attorneys are invited to participate in Election 2020 and the Merit Shop: ABC’s Legal and Policy Forecast Conference, a virtual event packed with analysis and insights on the elections and their impact on legislative, regulatory and legal issues important to the merit shop contracting community.

 

The conference, which will take place on Thursday, Dec. 3, from 12:45 – 5:30 p.m. EST, is filled with six content-rich sessions on how the elections will shape the future of labor and employment, workforce development, workplace safety and other issues affecting the construction industry.

 

Join ABC leaders and industry legal and policy experts for a virtual conference as they share insights and analysis on the 2020 election results and their impact on various legislative, regulatory and legal issues, and learn how you can prepare your business for forthcoming challenges and opportunities.

 

This is a must-attend virtual conference for ABC members, including merit shop labor attorneys and construction contractors, and ABC chapter presidents, government affairs directors and attorneys.

 

The conference agenda can be found on the ABC website. You can register for the event here.

 

 

TOMORROW - ABC PAC Virtual Meet & Greet with House Candidates Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI-05) and Ashley Hinson (R-IA-01)

 

On Tuesday, October 13th, ABC PAC is hosting a virtual meet and greet event featuring State Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI-05) and State Rep. Ashely Hinson (R-IA-01) from 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Central/3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

 

This meet and greet provides an opportunity to hear an update from state elected officials on two high profile U.S. House races. Federal law requires members to sign a prior authorization form for the executive or administrative personnel of the member corporation to be solicited by ABC PAC. ABC members can complete the required prior authorization form through the Prior Authorization Portal.

 

Any members interested in the meet and greet will need to fill out the prior authorization form before attending the event. Please do not hesitate to reach out to ABC PAC at abcpac@abc.org with any questions.

 

 

WEDNESDAY - Latest Updates on DOL's COVID-19 Paid Leave and Other Hot Topics Webinar

 

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 14

Time: 1 p.m. EDT

Speaker: Maury Baskin, Littler Mendelson P.C.

 

On Aug. 3, an Obama-appointed federal judge in New York nullified key sections of the U.S. Department of Labor’s rules governing paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Following the court decision, on Sept. 11, the DOL revised its guidance that restricted paid leave during layoffs and furloughs, required employer consent to paid intermittent leave and required employees to provide documentation before taking leave. ABC General Counsel Maury Baskin will discuss how the revised FFCRA guidance impacts construction contractors and chapters.

 

Register today.

 

 

Nov. 4 Free Webinar on Silica Compliance

 

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the American Society of Safety Professionals are offering a free webinar on silica compliance.

 

Description:  In 2020, OSHA launched a national emphasis program focusing on silica compliance. The goal is to identify and reduce or eliminate worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica in general industry, maritime and construction. OSHA’s 2016 crystalline silica rule is now in full effect, and enforcement patterns and guidance are available for organizations in the construction and general industry sectors.

 

The webinar is scheduled for November 4, 2020 at 12:00 PM (Central) and will include speakers from OSHA, ASSP and CPWR. More information on the webinar and registration is available here.

 

Learn more about OSHA's Respirable Crystalline Silica standard for construction here.

ABC Among Industry Groups Urging Action on COIVD-19 Relief Package:

 

Two days after President Trump shut down negotiations for a COVID-19 relief package, he has confirmed his course reversal. Joining Fox Business Network this morning, the President said “Well I shut down talks two days ago because they weren’t working out. Now they are starting to work out, we’re starting to have some very productive talks.” The President also said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “wants it to happen, because it’s so good for our country, we really need it.” However, the viability of any deal is still unclear, as Speaker Pelosi said this morning that “there is not standalone bill without a bigger bill.” This exchange comes at a perilous time for ailing industries as this morning, the Department of Labor reported 840,000 Americans filed for new unemployment claims last week. The number of continuing claims fell to 11.8 million, down from 12.7 million the previous week.

 

In an ENR article posted this morning, ABC called for relief for small businesses, as ABC has “continued to advocate for legislation that supports the small business community, its workforce and the U.S. construction industry." ABC also called for more funds and crucial fixes for the PPP and targeted liability relief.

 

It is still unclear if true negotiations will continue, however, congressional Republicans seem to be on the same page as the White House, as they have reportedly started to push for a legislative package that could include $1,200 stimulus checks, PPP funding, and financial aid for the airlines. Speaker Pelosi will control the fate of that push though, and given that Democrats are unlikely to support legislation that excludes aid for the unemployed and state and local governments, it is unlikely to succeed.

 

 

SBA, Treasury Release Updated PPP Guidance: 

 

Yesterday, The SBA and the Department of Treasury released updated guidance and FAQs for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). SBA and Treasury released the updated version of the guidance to provide additional clarification to address borrower and lender questions related to the implementation of the PPP. Specifically, this update clarifies that lenders must recognize the previously established extended deferral period for payments on the principal, interest, and fees on all PPP loans, even if the executed promissory note indicates only a six-month deferral - meaning that lenders must comply with the extended deferral period, implemented by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, and notify borrowers of the change.

 

The new guidance, found in question No. 52 in the SBA’s frequently asked questions document is below:

• Question: The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 (Flexibility Act) extended the deferral period for borrower payments of principal, interest, and fees on all PPP loans to the date that SBA remits the borrower’s loan forgiveness amount to the lender (or, if the borrower does not apply for loan forgiveness, 10 months after the end of the borrower’s loan forgiveness covered period). Previously, the deferral period could end after 6 months. Are lenders and borrowers required to modify promissory notes used for PPP loans to reflect the extended deferral period?
• Answer: The extension of the deferral period under the Flexibility Act automatically applies to all PPP loans. Lenders are required to give immediate effect to the statutory extension and should notify borrowers of the change to the deferral period. SBA does not require a formal modification to the promissory note. A modification of a promissory note to reflect the required statutory deferral period under the Flexibility Act will have no effect on the SBA’s guarantee of a PPP loan.

 

 

DOL’s OFCCP Issues FAQs Addressing President Trump’s Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping

 

On Oct. 7, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs issued FAQs related to President Trump’s Executive Order 13950, Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping. The order, published on Sept. 22, states, “It shall be the policy of the United States not to promote race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating in the federal workforce or in the uniformed services, and not to allow grant funds to be used for these purposes. In addition, federal contractors will not be permitted to inculcate such views in their employees.”

 

ABC general counsel Littler Mendelson P.C. wrote an analysis of the OFCCP FAQs, stating that “The new FAQs offer limited additional guidance to federal contractors.” And “As a practical matter, federal contractors that provide diversity and inclusion training to their employees—either internally or by use of outside vendors—should consider reviewing their materials and training to ensure that they do not inadvertently violate the order.  For many, their training may already be compliant.” To learn more read the Littler analysis.

 

 

ICYMI - FEA Launches Campaign Combating the PRO Act:

 

The Free Enterprise Alliance, the issue advocacy arm of ABC, has launched a new campaign aimed at informing Americans on the dangerous provisions of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The campaign, which features a new website and a targeted digital video campaign — began yesterday and will run through Election Day, Nov. 3. The website can be reached here: FreeEnterpriseAlliance.org/PROAct

The launch of the new Free Enterprise Alliance website against the PRO Act also contains several resources designed to aid ABC chapters and members in our effort to stop the PRO Act from becoming law.

For additional information on this PRO Act campaign - along with a deep dive into ABC’s political investments this cycle – including FEA and ABC PAC will be covered on two upcoming webinars. The first is for ABC National and Chapter staff only – on Thursday, October 15th at 3 p.m. The Second is an exclusive ABC political donor briefing on Monday, October 19 at 4:30 p.m. The exclusive donor briefing is reserved for FEA and ABC PAC donors only. Registration for both webinars will be circulated the appropriate audiences in the coming days.

ABC highlighted the new FEA campaign on a webinar yesterday titled “New Updates on the PRO Act and its Negative Impact on Merit Shop Contractors.” The archived webinar recording is now available on ABC’s Academy for Construction Ethics, Compliance and Best Practices site, which is restricted to ABC members in management positions and chapter staff. The materials included in the Academy are intended for and limited to members of management. In order to receive log-in information and gain access to the password-protected site, the request must come from an ABC member in a management position or chapter Staff via the online Academy Login Request Form. Chapter staff can access the Academy by using their login for National Connections.

 

October 15 Presidential Debate In Flux:

 

After the Commission on Presidential Debates announced that the second of three presidential debates will be a town hall with the participants appearing virtually from remote locations - President Trump rejected the format change in favor of a rally. The debate over the debate comes as the president continues to recover from COVID-19.  Today, the Trump campaign said in a statement that they are requesting that the two remaining presidential debates between the president and Joe Biden happen in person and that they should be moved to Oct. 22, and the third debate shifted back one week to Oct. 29.

 

 

TODAY - ABC’s Election Briefing Series Powered by FEA:

 

ABC will continue its Election Briefing Series with a Regional Update featuring insights into the Mountain West and Pacific regions today at 3:00 p.m. Eastern.

 

These updates are a part of the ABC Election Update Series, which is powered by the Free Enterprise Alliance. It is reserved for ABC members and registration is free of charge thanks to our generous sponsors. Please contact Melanie Pfeiffenberger, ABC National director of political affairs, for more information at pfeiffenberger@abc.org.

 

Register here for this complimentary event: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4745395835825670160

 

 

NEXT WEEK - Webinar on DOL’s COVID-19 Paid Leave Rule and Other Hot Topics:

 

On Wednesday, Oct 14, ABC will host a webinar featuring Maury Baskin from Littler Mendelson P.C. on DOL’s COVID-19 paid leave rule and provide timely updates on other topics of interest to chapters and members. Register here

 

Webinar Description: On Aug. 3, an Obama-appointed federal judge in New York nullified key sections of the U.S. Department of Labor’s rules governing paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Following the court decision, on Sept. 11, the DOL revised its guidance that restricted paid leave during layoffs and furloughs, required employer consent to paid intermittent leave and required employees to provide documentation before taking leave. ABC General Counsel Maury Baskin will discuss how the revised FFCRA guidance impacts construction contractors and chapters.

 

In addition to discussing recent FFCRA updates, learn the latest on new and proposed federal rules dealing with independent contractors, joint employers, diversity training requirements for government contractors, the potential impact of the Supreme Court nominee and other election campaign issues affecting ABC members.

Mixed Messages Over COVID-19 Relief Negotiations:

 

Tuesday afternoon, President Trump decided to delay ongoing COVID-19 relief negotiations until after the election - accusing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of negotiating in bad faith. Effectively ending negotiations, the President Tweeted “I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business.” However, at around 10 p.m. Wednesday, President Trump seemingly reversed course, calling on Congress to approve some additional assistance for airlines, another round of direct payments to individual Americans, and a small-business aid program via piecemeal legislation.

 

The mixed messages from the White House will certainly be a topic of debate going forward if there are renewed negotiations. It will also be a campaign point for Democrats who have already sought to paint the President’s tweets as an unwillingness to provide aid to Americans. Thus far, Democrats have largely resisted passing piecemeal bills, pushing instead for an overall agreement in a large package that is untenable for Republicans.

 

As we enter into the home stretch of the 2020 campaign, COVID-19 Relief Negotiations could prove to be more talk than action, as it is increasingly to fathom a significant bill passing on top of a contentious Supreme Court nomination and President Trump’s and other leading GOP members recent positive COVID-19 diagnoses.

 

During the latest round of congressional COVID-19 relief negotiations, ABC has continued to advocate for legislation that supports the small business community, its workforce and the U.S. construction industry. This includes additional funds to replenish the lapsed Paycheck Protection Program, which served as a vital lifeline for the U.S. construction sector, as well as critical fixes to the program that will allow small businesses to deduct expenses paid with a forgiven PPP loan from their taxes. ABC has also supported targeted liability relief legislation related to the COVID-19 pandemic that would safeguard businesses from unfair lawsuits so that they can continue to contribute to a safe and effective recovery from this pandemic. ABC will continue to update members on COVID-19 developments.

 

 

FEA Launches Campaign Combating the PRO Act:

 

The Free Enterprise Alliance, the issue advocacy arm of ABC, has launched a new campaign aimed at informing Americans on the dangerous provisions of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The campaign, which features a new website and a targeted digital video campaign — began today and will run through Election Day, Nov. 3. The website can be reached here: FreeEnterpriseAlliance.org/PROAct

The launch of the new Free Enterprise Alliance website against the PRO Act also contains several resources designed to aid ABC chapters and members in our effort to stop the PRO Act from becoming law.

For additional information on this PRO Act campaign - along with a deep dive into ABC’s political investments this cycle – including FEA and ABC PAC will be covered on two upcoming webinars. The first is for ABC National and Chapter staff only – on Thursday, October 15th at 3 p.m. The Second is an exclusive ABC political donor briefing on Monday, October 19 at 4:30 p.m. The exclusive donor briefing is reserved for FEA and ABC PAC donors only. Registration for both webinars will be circulated the appropriate audiences in the coming days.

ICYMI – ABC highlighted the new FEA campaign on a webinar this afternoon titled “New Updates on the PRO Act and its Negative Impact on Merit Shop Contractors.” The archived webinar recording is now available on ABC’s Academy for Construction Ethics, Compliance and Best Practices site, which is restricted to ABC members in management positions and chapter staff. The materials included in the Academy are intended for and limited to members of management. In order to receive log-in information and gain access to the password-protected site, the request must come from an ABC member in a management position or chapter Staff via the online Academy Login Request Form. Chapter staff can access the Academy by using their login for National Connections.

 

Vice Presidential Debate Tonight:

 

Tonight, Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) are scheduled to debate appear for 90 minutes at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The running mates of President Trump and Biden will square off from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Eastern on all of the major news channels.

 

 

TOMORROW - ABC’s Election Briefing Series Powered by FEA:

 

ABC will continue its Election Briefing Series with a Regional Update featuring insights into the Mountain West and Pacific regions tomorrow - Thursday, Oct. 8 at 3:00 p.m.

 

These updates are a part of the ABC Election Update Series, which is powered by the Free Enterprise Alliance. It is reserved for ABC members and registration is free of charge thanks to our generous sponsors. Please contact Melanie Pfeiffenberger, ABC National director of political affairs, for more information at pfeiffenberger@abc.org.

 

Register here for this complimentary event: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4745395835825670160

President Trump Ends COVID-19 Relief Negotiations After Leaving Walter Reed:

 

In a series of tweets yesterday afternoon, President Trump effectively ended ongoing COVID-19 relief negotiations saying: “Nancy Pelosi is asking for $2.4 Trillion Dollars to bailout poorly run, high crime, Democrat States, money that is in no way related to COVID-19. We made a very generous offer of $1.6 Trillion Dollars and, as usual, she is not negotiating in good faith. I am rejecting their request, and looking to the future of our Country. I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business. I have asked Mitch McConnell not to delay, but to instead focus full time on approving my outstanding nominee to the United States Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett. Our Economy is doing very well. The Stock Market is at record levels, JOBS and unemployment also coming back in record numbers. We are leading the World in Economic Recovery, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”

 

This unexpected development comes just one day after President Trump left Walter Reed National Medical Center after receiving three days of treatment for COVID-19. The President returned to the White House after his Physician Sean Conely said he had met his doctors' discharge criteria. Conley also acknowledged that "though he may not be entirely out of the woods yet, the team and I agree that all our evaluations and most importantly his clinical status support the president's safe return home where he'll be surrounded by world class medical care 24/7."

 

The tweet series ending negotiations are increasingly perplexing given the tweet that President Trump sent over the weekend from Walter Reed spurring negotiations on -  the President said the country “wants and needs” fiscal stimulus, and told negotiators to “Work together to get it done.” Heeding this weekend’s advice, negotiations continued this week with Speaker Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin speaking over the phone for roughly one hour today and yesterday. However, with this most recent directive from the commander-in-chief, it is now clear that neither party was willing to concede on huge areas of disagreement in the negotiations. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned earlier today that the U.S. economy is in for a "longer than expected slog back to full recovery," and that there's little risk of "overdoing" economic support — a warning that was expected to bring negotiators together, however has clearly not swayed the President.  

 

If these tweets achieve their goal in ending negotiations - the electoral scenario is now no longer hypothetical. Democrats will campaign on the $2.2 Trillion relief package that the House passed last week and will undoubtedly blame Republicans for sabotaging the relief efforts. While clearly hoping to receive a strong mandate after the election’s outcome, Republicans are banking on winning the White House and maintaining control of the U.S. Senate. Congressional Republicans and President Trump will run on the pre-election confirmation of Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court and will wait until after the election to pass a more comprehensive relief bill with their top priorities.

 

ABC will continue to advocate for our priorities in any revived relief talks, as much of what has been negotiated by Speaker Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin will likely carry over to the post-election period.  

 

 

TODAY - Webinar on the ABC-Opposed PRO Act:

 

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT, ABC will follow the webinar from Sept. 14th in its ABC member and chapter staff education about the ABC-opposed Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The PRO Act is problematic legislation which will have a severe negative impact on the merit shop contracting community and U.S. economy if it becomes law. Hear important insights from ABC leaders and experts about how the PRO Act will harm employers and threatens employee freedom, privacy and choice in the workplace.

 

Speakers: Maury Baskin, Littler; Jimmy Greene, ABC Michigan; Brett McMahon, Miller & Long Co.; Vance Walter, ABC National

Moderator: Ben Brubeck, ABC National

 

Register here: https://www.abc.org/Education-Training/Academy-Pages/entryid/18134/Default

 

 

THURSDAY - ABC’s Election Briefing Series Powered by FEA:

 

ABC will continue its Election Briefing Series with a Regional Update featuring insights into the Mountain West and Pacific regions on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 3:00 p.m.

 

These updates are a part of the ABC Election Update Series, which is powered by the Free Enterprise Alliance. It is reserved for ABC members and registration is free of charge thanks to our generous sponsors. Please contact Melanie Pfeiffenberger, ABC National director of political affairs, for more information at pfeiffenberger@abc.org.

 

Register here for this complimentary event: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4745395835825670160