Engineering Inc. - January/February 2009 - (Page 4)

NEWS & NotES Raymond Promotes Infrastructure Stimulus on FOX News A CEC President Dave Raymond appeared on FOX Business on Dec. 17 to provide perspective on the upcoming stimulus bill. In a live interview, Raymond said: “We’ve had decades of political indifference to America’s crumbling infrastructure. As a result, we don’t have an infrastructure that can sustain a modern competitive economy. “If we can inject some funding to bring America’s infrastructure to a 21st-century level, we will be able to do something about sustainable recovery.” President-elect Obama has reiterated his plan for investing billions in infrastructure when he takes office in January, although concerns “If we are just filling potholes, then we will miss a unique opportunity to expand and improve our infrastructure so that we can sustain a recovery and successfully compete in the global economy.” have been raised that dollars may be spent on short-term repairs only. Raymond said that infrastructure investment should be targeted at “sustainable recovery, not just putting people to work on shortterm assignments.” He sent letters this week to House and Senate leaders to underscore the point. In the letter Raymond said: “To successfully promote sustainable economic growth, the infrastructure package should not be limited to assisting states with deferred maintenance. If we are just filling potholes, then we will miss a unique opportunity to expand and improve our infrastructure so that we can sustain a recovery and successfully compete in the global economy.” Go to www.acec.org to see Raymond’s FOX Business interview and letter to Congress on infrastructure-based economic recovery. T Private Engineers Cost 14% Less Than Public Engineers belief that increased use of private engineering firms is in the best interests of the state,” says ACEC/New York Executive Director Jay Simson. The results were formulated using comparative data for government engineers versus private engineers on: direct salaries adjusted for hours of work per week; fringe benefits, including medical insurance, pension plans, survivors’ benefits, workers’ compensation, unemployment and Social Security insurance; and overhead. Statistical information for in-house costs was based on April 2007 New York State Department of Transportation data. Private engineering firm statistics were derived from an April 2008 random sampling of salaries, benefits and overhead information from engineering firms throughout New York state. The statistics were indexed and adjusted using the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics’ Employer Cost Index established for private professionals and related groups. he use of private engineers for the design of public projects in New York state was found to cost at least 14 percent less than government in-house engineers, according to a recent study by the Polytechnic Institute of New York University. With financial backing by the ACEC Minuteman Fund, the study also found that consultants have more flexibility to meet fast-track deadlines than government agencies. “The Polytechnic Institute findings confirm our long-held 4 ENGINEERING INC. ACEC/New York Executive Director Jay Simson says “findings confirm long-held belief.” JaNuaRy / FEbRuaRy 2009 http://www.acec.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Engineering Inc. - January/February 2009

Table of Contents
Engineering Inc. - January/February 2009
From ACEC to You
News and Notes
Market Watch
Legislative Action
Exclusive Interview
RX to Ease Employer Health Care Pain
2009 Spring Course Catalog
That's Entertainment
2008 Professional Liability Insurance Survey of Carriers
Annual Convention Preview
Members in the News
Business Insights

Engineering Inc. - January/February 2009