Legislators take bite out of labor legislation
A group of senators reportedly has agreed to eliminate the card-check provision of the Employee Free Choice Act. The compromise is a result of Arlen Specter, D-Pa., a former cosponsor, and Blanche...
View Article3 construction labor policy changes you should know about
Recent developments in construction labor policy will change the labor practices of construction contractors who work on federal projects. Although Congress is unlikely to enact new labor legislation...
View ArticleCompetitive bidding: tips and traps
Mistakes happen in competitive construction bidding. Instructions often are confusing, and bids are evaluated by contracting authorities whose expertise varies greatly. Contractors also frequently...
View ArticleNavigating contractor prequalification in Oregon
Although competitive low bidding is the most common method for public contracting authorities to procure construction services, many contracting authorities rightly believe that selecting the lowest...
View ArticleBid protests in Oregon and Washington
As the increase in public construction wanes, many contractors have expanded their territory across state lines. The resulting increase in competition for public projects in Oregon and Washington has...
View ArticleNew state laws expected to impact Oregon’s construction industry
The past few session of the Oregon Legislature have drastically changed the laws affecting construction contractors. The 2007 session produced wholesale changes to construction contractor licensing,...
View ArticleLooming risks for LLC owners
People form corporations and limited liability companies for personal liability protection. Where partners in a partnership are personally liable for the partnership’s obligations and liabilities,...
View ArticleLien lessons:Take the right steps now to avoid costly mistakes later
"In creating Oregon’s lien law, the Legislature balanced the interests of contractors, design professionals, residential and commercial owners, developers, lenders and others. The diverse and often...
View ArticleRisks and rewards of joint checks
Joint checks are common in construction. They are checks made out to two payees – most often a subcontractor and the subcontractor’s supplier. An agreement to issue joint checks may come from the top...
View ArticleManaging risk through retainage
Competing interests and the recent economic downturn have led to changes in the retainage rules in every West Coast state (legislatures found that many subcontractors could not survive if traditional...
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