Construction Employment Fluctuates Throughout Country

According to new data released by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department on Tuesday, construction employment rose in half the nation’s states but decreased in the other 25 last year.

“Construction employment gains are likely to remain spotty for months to come,” Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, wrote in a press release. “Local factors, rather than regional or industry trends, seem to dictate whether a state has rising or falling construction employment in a given month.”

North Dakota recorded a 19 percent gain in construction jobs over the past year, ranking it first among other states that recorded gains. Oklahoma and Washington, D.C. ranked second and third place in construction employment gains, respectively.

Georgia lost 9.5 percent of its construction jobs from September to October, the highest percentage among states whose employment numbers in the contruction sector dropped. 

Association officials worry that the super committee’s failure to reach a deal to cut the U.S. deficit will have a negative impact on construction employment. Mandatory federal spending that are set to take effect as a reuslt of the 12-member panel’s failure will likely cut investments into infrastructure projects across the U.S.

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Ron Paul Only Wants A $39K Salary As President

GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul (R-Texas) joined a handful of bipartisan lawmakers in signing a letter calling for cuts to congressional salaries.

The letter, addressed to the deficit super committee, encourages the 12-member panel to include congressional salary cuts in its deficit reduction.

According to the letter, members of Congress make 3.4 times more than the average full-time worker and have not been subject to a pay decrease since the 1930s.

“Congressman Paul has always voted against congressional pay raises, and he does not participate in the lucrative pension program,” said Paul’s 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee Chairman Jess Benton.

“Ron Paul understands that Washington has to tighten its belt just like the rest of America, which is why as President, he pans to take a salary of $39, 336, which is approximately equal to the median personal income of the American worker.”

House Dem Defends White House's Approach To Deficit Talks

By Mike Hothi

Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) said Friday that he remains hopeful that the so-called “super committee” will come to an agreement on a $1.3 trillion deficit reduction plan by Thanksgiving.

Larson told reporters that he hopes the committee focuses on growing the economy, saying more jobs leads to more tax revenue.

“By putting the country back to work, more than a third of the revenue needed to lower the deficit comes into play,” he said. “That’s the hugest amount of money coming into our coffers to deal with our deficit.”

Larson defended President Obama against criticism that he’s been detached from the negotiations so far.

“The President learned a lesson,” Larson said, referring to this past summer’s debt limit standoff, in which Obama thought he had struck a deal with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on a large deficit reduction package, only to see it fall apart.

Obama “had the carpet pulled out from underneath him,” Larson said.

On other issues, Larson actually commended House Republicans for scheduling a vote later today on a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, but called it a “bridge too far for a lot of Democrats” to support.

Dean Of The House Challenges Congress To Stay In Session

Dean of the House Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) challenged Congress to stay in session until ” we can accomplish something of value, something worthwhile for the American people.”

In a Politico Op-Ed published late Wednesday evening, Dingell expressed his frustration with the political atmosphere that has engulfed Capitol Hill and argued that, thus far, the 112th Congress has been spinning its wheels and has failed at being a productive legislative body. 

“We’ve wasted the time of this great institution in a fashion worthy of the dreamiest kindergartener,” Dingell said. “I’m not willing to say Congress is broken. I am, however, ready to say that we need some repair work.”

Dingell, the longest-serving member in the House, challenged Congress to remain in Washington until it takes significant steps towards resolving the wide-array of issues currently facing the country. 

“There are traditionally bipartisan proposals in these areas,” Dingel wrote. “There is no reason there shouldn’t be today if members of Congress are willing to put their country ahead of their career.”

Click Here to read the full text of Dingell’s challenge to Congress… 

Bipartisan Effort Underway To Oppose Employee-Sponsored Health-Benefit Taxes

Representatives  Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.) sent a bipartisan letter to the Super Committee on Friday urging its members not to incorporate new taxes on employer-sponsored health benefits in their effort to reduce the deficit.

“Efforts to cap or to eliminate these tax exclusions would have far reaching consequences that would not only reduce health coverage for millions of Americans, but would also increase long-term federal spending obligations,” the letter argued. 

“Considering these consequences would negate federal tax income generated from the change and would have little impact on reducing our federal debt,” the letter continued, “we would encourage you to reject proposals to scale back or eliminate tax exclusions for employer-sponsored health coverage.”

The bipartisan letter was cosigned by 160 House members.