Amerimix
CrewTracks
EZ Scaffold Corp.
EZG Manufacturing
Hydro Mobile, Inc.
Loot
Non-Stop Scaffolding
PROSOCO, Inc.
SOLA/Keson
SPEC MIX LLC
Stabila
Westlake Royal Stone Solutions
Find-a-Contractor Masonry Buyer's Guide
February 2004

The MCAA: Getting Plugged into Washington

President’s Message

By

For months now, you have heard a great deal from the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) regarding OSHA’s push to expand their silica standard and our effort to defeat this new standard.

The MCAA, through our Washington staff, has led a coalition of some very powerful Washington associations that includes the Associated General Contractors, the Home Builders and the Associated Builders and Contractors.

This new silica fight is only one of the issues that the MCAA has become immersed in over the past several years. As I sat back to review the past year and our many accomplishments in the Washington arena, I think back several years ago to the Board meetings where the MCAA had to debate the hiring of a full-time Association staff position to represent our interests in our nation's capital. Adding a new staff position required a significant financial commitment that our members would have to make. We debated whether it would be a worthwhile investment. And most importantly, would we find enough work for this person to actually do? We really didn't know the depth of the issues that would face us in Washington, nor the amount of effort it would take to affect a successful outcome. We did know that we must have someone representing our views so that we would have a voice and a presence on matters that could change our working rules, the safety of our employees, materials and equipment that is needed in our industry.

Today, as I review monthly reports from our Washington office, it has now become abundantly clear that a full-time staff in Washington is warranted to protect our interests. In fact, I believe that every member of the Association's Board will agree that we can't imagine how MCAA and its members ever got along without someone fighting for us full-time in Washington, D.C.

Since we have brought Marian Marshall, MCAA's Director of Government Affairs, onto our staff, the MCAA has fought and won to overturn an OSHA standard that would require every mason contractor to remove all materials from scaffolding at the end of every shift and then restock the scaffolding at the beginning of the next shift. We reaffirmed earlier successes by the Association to allow for overhand bricklaying. We are now on the verge of defeating a crippling silica standard. We have also joined a coalition to fight ergonomics, should it raise its ugly head again. We have introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate, and we are close to introducing legislation in the U.S. House to give tax credits to mason contractors who invest in training apprentices. We have recently entered into a fight to save masonry pavers from elimination due to expanded American Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. And we are forging closer ties to OSHA with a pending formal alliance.

Our fight is not limited to our lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill. We have become equally involved in supporting candidates for federal office that share our views and interests.

Over the past year, our Association's political action committee, MACPAC, has contributed thousands of dollars for the upcoming 2004 campaigns. And through the support of our members, we will contribute thousands more as the November election draws near.

In addition to giving direct contributions to candidates, we have sponsored fundraising events for key races to help insure that we would have allies in Congress that will help preserve our industry's traditions. In addition, we have developed a database so you can reach out to your elected officials to let them know how you feel about the issues that directly affect your business and its future.

This cannot be overstated: Our success in Washington and our fight to preserve our industry's future is not won by the MCAA's effort alone ? it relies on the collective action of everyone in this industry. Seventeen thousand mason contractors are receiving this magazine. If every contractor reading this article joins the MCAA and regularly writes their congressmen and senators, the power for change will be unstoppable. If we all sit back and think, "the other guy will do it so I don't have to," then change will come... but not for the better.

I urge you all to become involved and build on our success.

Chairman’s Message Archive

The American Dream

August 2019
The American Dream

Doing Our Part

May 2019
Doing Our Part

Preparing for D.C.

April 2019
Preparing for D.C.

Recent Updates

September 2018
Recent Updates

Masonry’s Future

August 2018
Masonry’s Future

Worthwhile Work

June 2018
Worthwhile Work

A New Beginning

February 2018
A New Beginning

Givers Gain

January 2018
Givers Gain

Things to Remember

March 2017
Things to Remember

Looking Forward

February 2017
Looking Forward

A Fresh Start

January 2017
A Fresh Start

Who Moved My Cheese?

September 2016
Who Moved My Cheese?

Giving back

December 2015
Giving back

An exciting year ahead

February 2015
An exciting year ahead

Defining success

December 2014
Defining success

Staying busy for you

August 2014
Staying busy for you

Ready for action

February 2014
Ready for action

Thanks

January 2014
Thanks

Happy holidays

December 2013
Happy holidays

MCAA Midyear update

November 2013
MCAA Midyear update

The MCAA in D.C.

August 2013
The MCAA in D.C.

A Lot Happening

July 2013
A Lot Happening

Eye opening

June 2013
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Positive movement

March 2013
Positive movement

Headed to Vegas

February 2013
Headed to Vegas

New beginning

January 2013
New beginning

It’s finally over

December 2012
It’s finally over

My trip to the Rockies

November 2012
My trip to the Rockies

The 2012 election

October 2012
The 2012 election

Stay involved

September 2012
Stay involved

Networking

August 2012
Networking

Summer time

July 2012
Summer time

Exciting time

June 2012
Exciting time

Working for you

May 2012
Working for you

New beginnings

March 2012
New beginnings

Farewell!

February 2012
Farewell!

One more to go!

January 2012
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Join us in Vegas

November 2011
Join us in Vegas

As the world turns

August 2011
As the world turns

A Bright Future

May 2011
A Bright Future

Tidbits From MCAA

March 2011
Tidbits From MCAA

Time Flies By

February 2011
Time Flies By

The End of the Year

December 2010
The End of the Year

Busy Times!

November 2010
Busy Times!

South of 40

October 2010
South of 40

What Are We Doing?

August 2010
What Are We Doing?

Moving Forward

March 2010
Moving Forward

A Fond Farewell

February 2010
A Fond Farewell

A New Year

January 2010
A New Year

Start the Year Strong

December 2009
Start the Year Strong

MCAA in D.C.

September 2009
MCAA in D.C.

Brick Voids

August 2009
Brick Voids

Vision 2020

February 2009
Vision 2020

State of the Association

February 2009
State of the Association

The Silver Lining

January 2009
The Silver Lining

Impact on the Hill

June 2008
Impact on the Hill

New Horizons

February 2008
New Horizons

Wrapping up Another Year

December 2007
Wrapping up Another Year

Greetings From Italy!

November 2007
Greetings From Italy!

We Need Your Help!

January 2005
We Need Your Help!

The Strength of Unity

November 2003
The Strength of Unity

Changing of the Guard

February 2002
Changing of the Guard

“The MCAA is passionate about masonry and keeps me up-to-date on industry news.”

Michael Sutter
Sutter Masonry, Inc.
MCAA member since 1995

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