ACEC's 2004 Fall Conference In Portland: "Best Conference I Have Ever Attended" Republican William Bennett (left) and Democrat Howard Dean (right) squared off in an impassioned debate at the 2004 Fall Conference in Portland, Maine. The debate was moderated by Portland NBC news anchor Pat Callaghan (center), and was reported on ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates. "This was the best conference I have ever attended and I've been to a zillion conferences," said Brien Gidlow, of Richard P. Arber Associates, Inc., in Denver. This was a sample reaction to the ACEC Fall Conference in Portland, Maine, which featured the following activities: Portland Mayor Nathan B. Smith welcomed the 750-plus Conference attendees to a beautiful Maine coastal setting. Maine Governor John Baldacci, the first General Session speaker, discussed the economy and political issues, and praised ACEC's Conference brochure as "the best brochure promoting Maine that I've ever seen." Republican William Bennett and Democrat Howard Dean provided a spirited debate just before the first Presidential debate. "Ours was better," said one Conference attendee. A gripping account of "The Perfect Storm" rescue and struggle for survival was given by Coast Guard Capt. Larry Brudnicki (ret.). ACEC/PAC raised an all-time record of over $60,000. Twenty-eight concurrent educational sessions in all eight Institute for Business Management tracks, as well as five CEO roundtables, were considered "exceptional." The Board of Directors focused on critical government advocacy, business practice, membership, education and state issues. Debbie and Russell Karr of Fort Worth, Texas enjoy opening reception festivities with Paul Haglund, chairman of ACEC's Management Practices Committee and Tim Psomas (right), chairman of ACEC's Procurement Advocacy Committee. "This has been a great experience," said Gary Graham, of Schaumburg & Polk Inc., of Beaumont, Texas. "The concurrent sessions were well done with knowledgeable presenters and topics that are important to our companies." First-time attendee Rip Patten, of Aquarion Engineering Services in Portland, Maine said: "I'm really impressed with how there was so much focus on the business aspects of engineering. And the debate between Bennett and Dean was fantastic."

Three Percent Tax Cut Benefit For All A/E Firms As Congress Rushes to Complete Tax Package House and Senate negotiators completed work this week on legislation to extend the equivalent of a three percent tax cut to both large and small firms, a victory for ACEC and other business organizations that have argued for equity in the final tax package. The House has voted to approve the compromised version of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (H.R. 4520), which will provide a nine percent deduction for domestic engineering services performed by A/E firms. The Senate is expected to vote before they recess for the November elections. The new deduction, which essentially amounts to a three percent tax cut, will be phased in over a ten-year period. H.R. 4520 repeals the Foreign Service Corporation/Extraterritorial Income Tax Exclusion (FSC/ETI), an existing export-based tax benefit, and replaces it with a new benefit targeted primarily towards domestic manufacturing. ACEC successfully secured passage of amendments to both the House and the Senate versions of the bill to include A/E services. "The engineering industry has qualified for FSC/ETI and its predecessor export-based provisions since the inception of the program in 1972," said ACEC President Dave Raymond in a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA). "The inclusion of engineering services in H.R. 4520 will help offset the loss of the FSC/ETI benefit, and help strengthen economic conditions and promote job growth in this critical sector."

Congress Clears Eight-Month TEA-21 Extension Amid Election-Year Politics ACEC Chairman Bill Howard at the Fall Conference in Portland, Maine. Congress passed an eight-month extension bill to continue the TEA-21 highway and transit programs until May 31, 2005. Despite ACEC's and industry efforts to pass a six-year bill this year, the reauthorization became mired in election year politics and the "tug of war" of competing state interests. A final deal on funding appeared to be close, but the drive to return home for the campaign season coupled with real uncertainties over how various states would fare under the compromise prompted House and Senate members to put off a six-year bill until next year. "While the eight-month extension provides some continuity for the program into next year, states have significantly cut back on design and planning work due to the lack of a multi-year bill," said ACEC Chairman Bill Howard. "ACEC will work to keep Congress' feet to the fire and get this vital legislation passed as soon as possible." House and Senate negotiators had come close to agreeing on the final outline of a compromise package that would authorize nearly $300 billion for surface transportation programs through 2008. Uncertainty among the states over the impact of this funding level, which guarantees the states $284 billion over the six-year life of the package, coupled with other policy differences and the short time frame remaining before Congress returns home, scuttled efforts to finish work on the new program. The eight-month extension bill, H.R. 5138, effectively provides states with two-thirds of their F.Y. 2005 funding, or $24.5 billion for highways and $5.2 billion for transit.

ACEC/Nebraska Finishes First As Portland Sets New Record For ACEC/PAC ACEC Chairman Bill Howard (right) and President Dave Raymond present ACEC/Nebraska National Director Larry Lewis (center) with a plaque honoring Nebraska as the first state to achieve its 2004 PAC goal. A groundswell of support among ACEC members for ACEC/PAC propelled donations to record levels during the Portland Conference. A final tally has put the figure in excess of $60,000, and nearly $70,000 when corporate sponsorship dollars are added. All told, the Portland Conference sets a new record in giving to ACEC/PAC at an ACEC conference, breaking the previous record set at the Fall Conference in Puerto Rico in 2002. ACEC Chairman Bill Howard established the tone in a direct appeal to the Board of Directors in a meeting preceding the Conference. The spontaneous giving that resulted brought in over $6,000. ACEC of Nebraska was honored at the Board meeting for being the first state to achieve its ACEC/PAC fundraising goals for the year. A number of other states pledged during the Board meeting to achieve their respective goals before Election Day. "The time is now for ACEC members to step up," said Howard. "The elections are almost upon us, and we need the resources now if we are to make a difference in key races around the country."

States Answering Call For ACEC/PAC Executive Committee Member Tom Burke (left) turns over ACEC/PAC donations received from fellow officers at Turner Collie and Braden to ACEC Chairman Bill Howard and ACEC President Dave Raymond. State Organizations have been the fuel behind the thrust for record-level donations to ACEC/PAC. Executive Committee member Steve Criscenzo of MACTEC paid visits to the North Carolina and Georgia state organizations prior to the Conference and came away with over $6,000 for ACEC/PAC. ACEC of Georgia President Don Alexander was recognized for his leadership in urging Georgia members to mobilize on behalf of the PAC. ACEC/PAC received additional help from Executive Committee members Tom Burke of Turner Collie and Braden in Texas and Doug Watson of Wade-Trim in Michigan, both of whom effectively lobbied colleagues in their respective firms for donations. Burke explained his check-gathering technique: "I asked all my fellow officers at TCB to contribute $100 to ACEC/PAC and no one said no—all I had to do was ask. I have raised over $1,000, with more on the way. "If every principal or officer of every ACEC firm gave just $100, we would greatly exceed our $1 million PAC goal," Burke added. "Our PAC would dwarf those of organizations who oppose our federal legislative agenda."

Jerry Stump (left), chairman of ACEC's Transportation Committee and ACEC/Tennessee President Steve Lane (right) present $6,000 in donations from ACEC/Tennessee to Dave Raymond. Also, Transportation Committee Chairman Jerry Stump of Wilbur Smith in Tennessee presented ACEC with checks totaling $6,000 from members of his state organization. ACEC/PAC Trustee Floyd Damron of CH2M Hill in Alaska came to Portland with $3,000 worth of checks from the Alaska state organization. These grassroots efforts, coupled with a slate of successful events at the conference, helped to provide ACEC with a needed boost in political resources in the final weeks before Election Day.

Degenkolb Leads ACEC/PAC Sponsors In Portland Gold Sponsor Degenkolb Engineers of California led the industry roster of sponsors for the ACEC/PAC events in Portland. Degenkolb's $4,000 donation, coupled with a $1,000 donation from Pennoni Associates and numerous golf sponsors, helped to underwrite the costs of the ACEC/PAC events. "Congress responds when a large group of constituents speaks with one voice. ACEC is the recognized voice for our industry and ACEC/PAC is critical in helping us make our message heard," said Degenkolb President Chris Poland. "It's for this reason that Degenkolb was proud to lend its support to the activities in Portland, to raise needed funds for the PAC. It makes a difference."

Senior House Members Join ACEC In Opposition To Anti-Iraq Contractor Provision Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) ACEC has secured the support of senior members of the House Armed Services Committee in opposing anti-Iraq contractor language previously adopted in the Senate to the F.Y. '05 Defense Authorization bill. Offered in June by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND), the language seeks to replace engineering firms with government agencies on several major Iraqi reconstruction assignments claiming the engineering and management services in question are "inherently governmental" and not appropriate for private sector performance. In a letter to Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, members of the committee led by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), urged the Chairman to reject anti-contractor language in the Senate version of the bill. The letter, which was co-signed by Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA), Rep. Terry Everett (R-AL), Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) and Rep. John McHugh (R-NY), states "As the federal government does not have the surge capacity needed to handle the task on its own, private sector companies stepped in at great personal risk to help accomplish the U.S. mission. The Wyden-Dorgan Amendment would undermine this successful public-private partnership while significantly slowing the pace of reconstruction." ACEC is continuing to work with its Capitol Hill and industry allies to ensure that the language is removed from the final version of the defense authorization bill, which is expected to be completed when Congress returns after the November elections.

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