AGC Conversations with Presidential Hopefuls

The AGC is participating in a series of teleforums with a coalition including the Associated Builders and Contractors, Business-Industry Political Action Committee, National Association of Manufacturers, National Federation of Independent Business and National Retail Federation — which has invited candidates from both parties to address business concerns. Rubio was the first presidential hopeful to accept an invitation from the coalition, followed by Bush. Senator Ted Cruz has accepted the coalition's invitation for a hearing this month.

RUBIO: 

Rubio was asked by a member of ABC about what he would do to address the skilled worker shortage plaguing the construction industry. The senator said society needs to "stop stigmatizing that kind of work. We’ve for too long told young Americans that people who work with their hands are people not smart enough to go to college. And that just isn’t true."

He said the country needs a president that "celebrates these trades" and promotes the economic opportunities in the industry, which offers "good paying jobs ... in many cases better than the jobs people are getting after four years of college."

The senator said he will continue to explore the idea of opening up the Federal Pell Grant to high school students, so that those who know they want to work in a trade can get the experience and education necessary to be career-ready immediately after graduation. 

BUSH:

Republican presidential candidate and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said during a Teleforum Monday afternoon with construction industry and other business association groups that he had "not heard of" project labor agreements, or PLAs, but after a member of the Associated General Contractors of America explained the issue, said, "I oppose that ...  I'll have to learn more about it."

Bush explained his positions of a lower corporate tax rate, decreased regulation, and more regulatory power in the hands of the states during the Teleforum.

The majority of construction industry associations, including the Builders Association, have not yet officially endorsed a presidential candidate. An exception to this is the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, which has endorsed Hillary Clinton.