Engineering Inc. - January/February 2009 - (Page 9) porate tax rate from 35 percent to around 30 percent and would offset this change by taking away certain business tax benefits. These include repeal of the Section 199 tax deduction, increasing employment taxes on S corporation shareholders and raising taxes on U.S. companies that work internationally. Absent larger tax reform, these tax increases could be used to pay for new spending programs. minuteman fund supports metro Washington Amicus Brief ACEC has awarded a Minuteman Fund grant to ACEC/Metro Washington for the filing of an amicus brief to support a federal court ruling that bars state claims against engineering firms when providing services to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In September 2006, Columbia Venture sued Dewberry & Davis, an engineering firm based in Fairfax, Va., in federal district court in Columbia, S.C., over engineering services that Dewberry provided to FEMA under the National Flood Insurance Act (NFIA). Having no recourse under federal law for the suit, Columbia Venture asserted its claims under state law. On Feb. 14, 2008, the district court granted Dewberry’s motion Courtney Brown, ACEC/Metro to dismiss the case, finding that Washington President says NFIA preempts state law causes issue is “vital.” of action. Columbia Venture then filed its appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. “We believe this suit is of vital importance to the engineering industry,” said ACEC/Metro Washington President Courtney Brown. “We’re very appreciative of ACEC and the Minuteman Fund for their help in defending this crucial principle of law.” The Minuteman Fund is ACEC’s most powerful resource for helping Member Organizations pursue legislative and legal initiatives of national importance. All Member Firms are encouraged to contribute to the Fund. ntsB faults gusset plates in minn. Bridge Collapse The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reviewed a final report in November on the 2007 I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis in which the failure of certain steel gusset plates was identified as the cause of the disaster. The bridge that carried 140,000 vehicles daily failed during the evening rush hour on Aug. 1, 2007, killing 13 and injuring 145. NTSB is expected to make safety recommendations based on the findings. ACEC President Dave Raymond urged policymakers to keep the bigger picture in view when considering the report. Voters strongly support infrastructure Ballot initiatives nationwide Infrastructure was the big winner on Election Day as voters throughout the nation approved more than $71 billion in new revenue for expanding and repairing transportation and water infrastructure projects. The three largest nationwide infrastructure ballot initiatives that passed were: n a $10 billion statewide bond measure in California to provide initial financing for a high-speed rail system; n a half-cent sales tax in Los Angeles County to raise $40 billion for transit and road projects; and n a sales tax increase in the Seattle region to fund $17.8 billion worth of transit projects over the next 20 years. In Rhode Island, voters also approved a measure to allow the state to borrow $87 million for transportation infrastructure improvements. Its passage makes the state eligible for $436 million in matching federal funds for transportation. In Pennsylvania, more than 62 percent of voters supported a $400 million clean water ballot initiative for water and sewer projects. The approval allows the state’s Infrastructure Investment Authority to make grants and loans available for improvements to municipally owned water and wastewater systems. “ACEC/Pennsylvania was very happy to see this referendum pass so overwhelmingly by the voters of Pennsylvania,” said Andrew Hilt, executive vice president of ACEC/Pennsylvania. “Water and wastewater infrastructure funding is needed in the commonwealth. Now that these dollars have been approved by the voters, ACEC/Pennsylvania will work with the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority to make sure that our members are positioned to help their clients access these funds.” “Regardless of NTSB’s final conclusions, the I-35W bridge collapse was a tragic reminder that we simply cannot continue to underinvest in the nation’s critical infrastructure,” said Raymond. “Sufficient funding must be made available to rebuild and maintain these structures that are so vital to the safety and economy of our nation.” for morE nEWs For weekly legislative news, visit aCEC’s Last Word online at www.acec.org. JaNuaRy / FEbRuaRy 2009 ENGINEERING INC. 9 http://www.acec.org
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