Since 1934, the Idaho AGC has been Idaho’s leading construction trade organization. Called a “combined chapter,” the Idaho AGC represents the interests of non-residential contractors and highway contractors along with a host of specialty and associate members.
The Idaho AGC has a lobbying team with a combined 75 plus years in professional lobbying at the state, local, and federal levels as well as significant regulatory experience.
Idaho AGC committees work to affect public policy as well. Our key committees that work on public policy matters are the:
- Legislative Committee
- Highway Committee
- Building Committee
In 2011, the Idaho AGC through our lobbying team and our committees has held meetings with a variety of state level public entities including but not limited to:
- Idaho Department of Administration
- Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
- Idaho Department of Insurance
- Idaho State Tax Commission
- Idaho Public Utilities Commission
- Various committees of the Idaho Legislature
- The Division of Building Safety
- The Idaho Transportation Department
- The Idaho Division of Public Works
- Office of Governor Butch Otter
The Idaho AGC is also a key player in various industry groups from chambers of commerce to the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry where Idaho AGC representatives serve on the influential IACI Public Policy Committee, the IACI Environment Committee, the IACI Tax Policy Committee, and the IACI Health Care Subcommittee.
Obviously, the Idaho AGC is engaged in transportation funding as well as working on ways to increase funding for other public works projects. However, in addition to those initiatives, during the 2011 Legislative session, the AGC was actively engaged in a diverse set of issues impacting our members including but not limited to:
- Unemployment Insurance
- Health Care Exchanges
- Personal property tax reduction
- Covered load regulations
- Killing a sales tax on construction-related services
- Degradation of water quality
- Public works contracting
- Wind energy construction
Throughout the summer of 2011, the Idaho AGC has been a key participant in a variety of health care meetings including IACI and the Department of Insurance to assure the interests of contractors are taken into account and protected.
In addition to these state level activities, the AGC engages on a local level as well including meetings with cities, highway districts, counties, and chambers of commerce throughout the state.
On a federal level, the Associated General Contractors of America has consistently been listed as one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the nation’s capitol. The Idaho AGC partners with the AGCA to work with Idaho’s four members of Congress on key federal issues. For example, after three Idaho AGC members met with our four members of Congress in Washington DC in September, all four officially sponsored efforts to repeal the 3% withholding penalty. It was not until the Idaho AGC weighed in that our delegation was 100% sponsors.
Some other organizations claim to be engaged at every level of government; however, in reality, only the Idaho AGC is truly looking out for the broad interests of the construction industry.
So, when making decisions about membership and who truly effectively represents the broad public policy interests of the construction industry, accept no substitutes or pretenders. Expect the best and look to the Idaho AGC!
