Legislative

Professional Lobbying
Our on-staff professional lobbyists in Madison and Washington represent the interests of merit shop contractors. ABC monitors every bill introduced to ensure that it will not adversely affect members. With the assistance of the ABC Legislative Committee, ABC’s lobbyists proactively introduce
legislation such as repealing prevailing wage, ending unfair utility and government competition and prohibiting union-only project labor agreements.

Professional Lobbyists Put a “Face” on the Merit Shop Construction Industry

A presence at the Capitol reminds lawmakers that the Merit Shop construction industry is vigilant and watching.

  • Promoting legislation important to the construction industry
  • Defending attacks organized by opponents of Merit Shop
  • Legislative Alerts keep you informed
  • Position Papers with Talking Points
  • Providing access to decision-makers
  • Grassroots organization provides legislators with constituent input


Prevailing Wage Law Assistance
Any contractor who works on a government project must conform to the prevailing wage laws. ABC has on-staff experts who can answer most of your questions relating to the required wages, overtime, job classifications, who is covered, how to calculate your benefits, even how to assist your local community appeal for a local prevailing wage rate.

Helping Cut Through Red Tape

We have spent years creating a network of relationships with lawmakers and public officials.  We can help your firm avoid bureaucratic landmines, political pitfalls, and help you retrieve accurate information quickly.

  • Prevailing Wage and Labor Standards
  • Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards
  • Plan Review, credentials, building code promulgation and interpretation.
  • State building programs and state building contracts
  • Road, bridge, and other DOT construction projects


Lien Law Assistance
ABC has summaries and in-depth resource materials available to help members understand Wisconsin’s lien law and how it ensures that everyone receives proper pay for the work they do. ABC’s attorneys give "first-call" advice on this complicated and important area of law.

Monitoring of Agency Rules
Not only does ABC monitor the activities at the Capitol, it monitors the activities of government agencies. From building codes, to environmental laws to labor law, the administrative rules that government bureaucracies write every day can be just as harmful to your business as any bill passed before the legislature. ABC has members there to make sure you know about it.

Representing Your Interests
Every day regulators are making important decisions that directly impact your business. We are there watching out for your interests on an array of industry committees and councils. Count on us to bring you the latest information.

  • Commercial Building Code Council
  • State Plumbing  Code Council
  • State Electrical Code Council
  • State Building Commission
  • Apprenticeship Advisory Council
  • Many others . . .

Member Alerts on Important Issues
ABC doesn’t stop with the monitoring of the legislature and government agencies. ABC notifies members as quickly as possible if any law changes will affect your business.

You Can Turn to Us for Help with Labor Relations
Merit Shop contactors can be subject to unique challenges. We understand those challenges and have developed effective ways to help you minimize exposure and get back to business.

  • Hiring / Firing
  • Picketing and Strikes
  • Union Organizing
  • Operating Merit Shop
  • Sample Hiring Policies
  • Salting


Grassroots Lobbying
ABC not only notifies our members about these proposed law changes, it helps them identify key legislators, develops issue papers and coordinates their efforts to ensure that merit shop contractors are an effective political force that can affect how the final law changes are written.

 PAC (Political Action Committee)
One of the best ways to ensure that the government is going to make the right decisions is to get the right people elected in the first place. Pro-merit shop legislators will not get elected unless they are supported by the merit shop construction industry. Your Wisconsin Chapter has two funds through which you can make political contributions, ABCPAC-WIS and the Merit Fund. ABCPAC-WIS is a political action committee. PAC contributions are used to support local and state political candidates and elections through the national ABC PAC. The Merit Fund is a conduit, a political fund unique to Wisconsin. Merit Fund contributions are held in an account on behalf of the individual and can only be disbursed at their request. ABC has turned merit shop contractors into a respected political force at the capitol in Madison as well as on capitol hill in Washington.