2 minute read
President’s Message
Election Season is Fast Approaching… It’s Time to Make our Voices Heard!
The hot summer of 2022 continues, and I hope everyone has jobsites that are in full swing. As July ended, the Massachusetts Legislature was also very busy wrapping up its 2021-2022 session on July 31. There certainly was no shortage of issues and proposals on the agenda with the potential to affect our industry and our businesses. As usual, UCANE was right in the middle of things.
UCANE’s advocacy efforts are a crucial part of what our Association provides for its members. The end of the session is the culmination of almost two years of activity by UCANE working closely alongside our longtime state lobbyist, Mark Molloy from Cascade Strategies, LLC.
In addition to our victory last year at the federal level with the passage of a long sought after infrastructure bill, we successfully lobbied for additional funding for water and utility infrastructure at the state level through stimulus and surplus funds. We also achieved a victory with the passage of our legislation that successfully updated the Dig Safe Law to include modern technology and help to ensure more consistent marking standards and training. We also successfully opposed overly burdensome bills such as wage theft legislation that, while well-intentioned, would have unfairly hurt businesses that did nothing wrong. We also filed and supported bills and initiatives promoting water infrastructure and the construction industry. You can read further details about these and other issues in Mark Molloy’s Legislative Update (page 7).
While the formal legislative session ended, UCANE’s work is certainly still ongoing. We will continue to meet with elected officials and leaders. But what every member can and should do is make their voices heard. 2022 is an election year, so the most important way to do that is to make sure that you cast your vote. The state primary will be held on September 6 and the general election on November 8.
We know there will be a new Governor in 2023, but all state constitutional officers are also on the ballot. Every seat in the State Legislature is also on the ballot, as is every Congressperson in the House of Representatives. No matter what office you are voting for, make sure you do your due diligence and see where the candidates stand on the issues that will affect you, your family, and your businesses, particularly the underground utility infrastructure and the construction industry. With the volatility of the economy and the uncertainty around the supply chain and inflation, it is vital that we support candidates who prioritize our issues and support our industry.
The outcome of these elections will have a great impact on our work going forward. So as we all juggle our work and family responsibilities during this hectic time of year, be sure to take the time to make informed decisions when you head to the ballot box this fall.
I hope everyone is enjoying a safe and happy summer, and, as always thank you
for your continued support of UCANE! n
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