Non-union builders group backs Emmer

Posted at 10:12 AM on August 25, 2010 by Tim Pugmire (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

The Minnesota Associated Builders and Contractors has announced its support of Republican Tom Emmer in the race for governor.

Associated Builders and Contractors is a national association representing nearly 25,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 78 chapters.

Emmer issued the following statement:

"I am humbled by the support of the Associated Builders and Contractors and by the hardworking small businesspeople they represent. They understand that it's not government but businesses which create jobs and opportunities for working Minnesotans. With ABC's support, I know we will make Minnesota a place that's open for business."

Comments (2)

Mike Hansen: Well, Tom, so far we're very impressed that you don't think we should pay any taxes, and that you want to get rid of all those programs other people use. But there's still one thing that concerns us: You don't really want to deport all our cheap illegal labor, do you?

Tom Emmer: Don't you mean, 'independent contractors'?

All: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Emmer: Nah, don't worry guys, that stuff about Arizona was just boob bait. I'll help your labor costs by undermining the state's wage laws. Hell, I wanted to eliminate the minimum wage five years ago.

Jay Koning: Now that's what we like to hear!

Emmer: Besides, you're gonna need to pay lower wages when you work on my house and I pay you whatever I feel like! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Awkward pause.]

Hansen: Eh, he's still better than Dayton.

Koning: Yeah, that nut would make Rukavina head of L&I.

Hansen: Okay, you're our man, Tom. Call our PR guy and have him announce it to the media.

Koning: Remind me, who's our PR firm again?

[The sounds of laughter echo through the halls.]

[End Scene]

Posted by Chris | August 25, 2010 2:00 PM

Excuse me, before you (Chris) slander ABC members, please show me one ABC member that employs illegal aliens. I'll concede that a few could probably be found because construction in general has massive amounts of illegal labor. We're not perfect since there is always a bad actor or two, but every member I've spoken with supports strong enforcement of the illegal immigration laws.

In fact, I'd bet good money that the percentage of illegal workers who work for an ABC member is less than both the industry (by a lot) or even the unions themselves. The truth is, it's unions that lead the charge for amnesty for illegal aliens, ever wonder why?

We have a massive budget deficit, and have crumbling roads and infrastructure, due to the fact that government intentionally overpays. Try actually looking up the rates for prevailing wage and justify $42.85 per hour for a common laborer in Pine County. Do you honestly think that is the going rate? Do you think a minimum-wage employee, or any other, worker should have to pay for that inflated wage through taxes?

Simply, we don't have good roads because we can't afford to build them. And company after company is expanding elsewhere or just plain moving out, leaving little to no private commercial work. Our commercial vacancy rate is out of control. The few contractors that have work are traveling out of state to find it because there is so little to do here.

When are people going to wake up? This state can't afford it's wasteful and inefficient bureaucracy any more.

Posted by Phil Raines | August 26, 2010 10:21 AM

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