States Join Together to Try to Push Bill for Federal Funding for Fixing State Roads
A nationwide campaign to encourage the Federal government to fix State’s aging roads and bridges is underway.  A campaign compiling billboards, radio, and print advertisements to push the passage of the long-delayed bill that provides federal funding for fixing aging roads and the numerous unsafe bridges around the Country started on August 17, 2010.  The campaign is directed to congress men & women at home from Washington on the congressional summer break. 

Billboard in Columbia, South Carolina

With nearly half of all bridges nationwide being structurally unsound and states economies scraping to get by Federal funding is needed to insure the safety of the American people.  Aging and under capacity roads also cost Americans billions of dollars in fuel each year.  Since the last transportation bill expired on September 30, 2009 congress has only passed a series of short-term, “patch” bills instead of major legislation that could fix our roads and bridges. 

ACEC-SC and SCSPE urge you to contact our state representatives and ask them to pass a new six-year surface transportation bill. Construction, engineering, and trucking associations are sponsoring this effort to move the transportation legislation in many states.  This bill will help locally as well as nationally and could hopefully bring work to engineers in South Carolina.      For more information go to www.FixAgingRoads.org.

SCSPE Receives Commission Check from UPS
Joe Jones, SCSPE Executive Director, was happy to accept a commission check from UPS on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at SCSPE Headquarters in Columbia, SC.  Mr. Waites Epps, Sales Support Representative, UPS, and Ms. Jeffrica Naumann, Marketing Analyst, UPS, issued a $348.64 check to SCSPE. 

UPS delivers incentive checks to SCSPE as a reward for its members’ use of the UPS Overnight and Second Day Air services.

L-R Waites Epps, Joe Jones and Jeffrica Naumann

Though a modest check compared to checks in the past, it was some better than the last check SCSPE received.  SCSPE encourages the use of this program by its members and their firms.  SCSPE has been partnering with UPS since 2002, and has benefited monetarily from this partnership.

If you use overnight or second day service in your business, it pays you and SCSPE to use the UPS service. In order to be eligible for the SCSPE partnership benefits you must set up a UPS “Association Account”. In order to do this call UPS at 1-800-325-7000. A UPS employee will help you sign up, and will then send you instructions and savings information.

This partnership benefits you in the following ways:
$1.50 off of every UPS Next Day Air Letters
10% off Next Day Air Paks
10% off 2nd day Air Early Morning Paks
10% off 2nd day Air Paks
20% off World Wide Express packages

Let Candidates Know Your Issues
Politics is in the air. Media coverage is full of political stories – positions candidates are taking on issues, tax returns, emails and indictments.

There will be a number of college football games played before you can cast your vote, but now is the time to let candidates know where you stand on issues important to you.

On the state level qualification based selection, tort reform, infrastructure and transportation funds and workers’ compensation are issues you want candidates to know you care about.

Engineers, surveyors and architects are design professionals whose services should not be bid for the lowest price. Qualification based selection is the proven method for acquiring the services from you. Federal government and South Carolina require this method; however, many political subdivisions want to bid for these professional services.

Legislation was introduced last year to get promote QBS by public entities. If you are talking with a candidate for any public office, talk to him or her about QBS and why it is the best method for acquiring engineering services.

In running marathon thinking, tort reform ran 25 miles but didn’t make it to the finish. It was held up by the trial lawyers and died awaiting the chance for a vote on the Senate floor. In all likelihood, legislation very similar to the tort reform bill that passed overwhelmingly by the SC House in 2009 will be introduced again in 2011. Talk to candidates and tell them how important tort reform is to you and to all small businesses in SC.

The state’s operating budget was cut approximately $2 Billion which means there is little money for any extra projects and other projects have and will be cut.

Nevertheless, the state’s roads and bridges and water and waste water plants are in a poor state. Most of these poor conditions are as clear as the noses on our faces; just ride on practically any of our roads, and if you dare, look at the bridges you ride over or go under. Cities, towns and special service districts are running water and waste water systems that are old, worn out and at capacity.

With money scarce, the infrastructure and transportation systems may not get the needed funds, but for the health, safety and welfare of the public, these needs must stay in the forefront of our politicians’ minds. Remind them of these needs.

Workers’ compensation remains a problem for South Carolina. Although good changes  were made over the last two years, work remains. For instance, the Senate refused to allow a well qualified candidate for the Workers Compensation Commission to sit for a confirmation hearing. Workers compensation insurance that every company has to pay remains high and is therefore a burden on every company. 

As professionals you need to take the lead informing candidates of the needs you see and then supporting those who think like you, and finally voting in November.