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Congress explores highway funding sources in hearings
Both chambers of Congress explored sources to fund a surface transportation bill during hearings on Capitol Hill, the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) reports. The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the long-term financing of the Highway Trust Fund, inviting witnesses to offer testimony. Those who participated were Chad Shirley of the Congressional Budget Office; Robert Poole of the Reason Foundation; and Bill Graves of the American Trucking Association. According to NSSGA, funding sources discussed were tolls; increasing the use of public-private partnerships and public activity bonds; user fees such as vehicle miles traveled and motor fuel tax; and general fund transfers offset with money from repatriated funds and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Fund. The Senate Committee on Finance, meanwhile, hosted a hearing with Joseph Kile of the Congressional Budget Office; Ray LaHood, former transportation secretary; and Stephen Moore of the Heritage Foundation. NSSGA reports that the Senate Finance Committee came to "no more of a conclusion than did their counterparts in the House." Sen. Orrin… Keep Reading
Gas tax hike unlikely, says House Majority Leader
Don't expect a gas tax increase anytime soon. That's what House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarty (R-Calif.) tells the Wall Street Journal in an exclusive interview. “We make policy in the world of politics," McCarty says. "If you thought, “Well, why don’t you just raise the gasoline tax?” Well, politically that will not make it. Let’s think of something else. How do you have a funding mechanism where you could actually fund a five-year plan?” One alternative highway funding plan would tax overseas corporate revenue. According to The Hill, the proposal calls for giving business a reprieve from penalties for avoiding prior taxes if they agree to move money back to the United States and pay a 6.5 percent tax rate on it. “There’s a coalition that cares about highways, but there’s also a coalition that cares about tax reform,” McCarthy tells The Wall Street Journal. “There’s a way that if you took the highway bill today and you extended it toward the end of the year, and you had… Keep Reading
Reclaimed pit took center stage as US Open host
The 2015 U.S. Open Championship, one of four men's major golf championships this year, was played on a reclaimed sand-and-gravel site. The site, now the Chambers Bay Golf Course in Puget Sound, Wash., has changed hands a number of times throughout its history, according to the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA). According to NSSGA, Lone Star Northwest consolidated the site after parts of it changed hands over the years. Glacier Northwest, a subsidiary of the CalPortland Co., later bought the site. NSSGA adds that the site was also previously used as a paper mill, an industrial center, a railroad center and a home for lumber companies. “The Chambers Bay Golf Course is just one high-profile example of an aggregates operation that went on to a higher purpose of serving its community,” says Mike Johnson, NSSGA president and CEO. “It exemplifies the sustainability of the stone, sand and gravel industry and shows what an asset an operation can be to future generations.” Ron Summers, senior vice president at CalPortland… Keep Reading
Report: Manufacturer optimism diminishes
Fewer manufacturers are upbeat today about their company's outlook than six months ago, reports the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). According to a NAM survey of manufacturers, 76.3 percent of manufacturers say they have a positive outlook about their company. Six months ago, 91.2 percent reported having a positive outlook about their company. The 76.3 percent mark represents the lowest percentage of manufacturers who've expressed a positive outlook to NAM since the third quarter of 2013. In addition, a new index – the NAM Manufacturing Outlook Index – fell from 10 points from 61.7 to 51.7 over the same period. According to Chad Moutray, NAM's chief economist, the drop reflects the notion that manufacturers continue to have above-average assessments about growth but with some "definite deterioration in sentiment." "Growth estimates for sales, capital spending and hiring have slipped significantly since the last survey," Moutray says. "For instance, manufacturers predict sales growth of 2.7 percent over the next 12 months, down from the 4.3 percent estimate in March." Keep Reading
Midwest distribution facility improves Douglas’ reach
Douglas Manufacturing opened a 58,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Rockford, Ill. The Midwest facility will house inventory items for immediate shipment or local pickup, including heavy-duty drum pulleys, heavy-duty wing pulleys, XT equivalent hubs and bushings, CEMA C idlers and Guardian Premium return roll guards. Douglas says it can now reach most of the Continental United States with inventory in one day. The company also has a distribution center in Sacramento, Calif., and it houses inventory at its Pell City, Ala., plant as well. Douglas previously served the Midwest from its Alabama plant. Keep Reading
LafargeHolcim executive committee formed
Lafarge and Holcim constructed a 10-member executive committee of the combined LafargeHolcim, Reuters reports. The companies confirmed that Holcim CFO Thomas Aebischer would be in charge of finance for the group. Saad Sebbar, who heads Lafarge Morocco, would lead the Middle East and Africa region. Pascal Casanova, who leads Lafarge France, would be in charge of Latin America, the companies said in a joint statement. According to Reuters, the appointments mean Holcim and Lafarge will each have five executives on the combined committee. Lafarge's Eric Olsen will lead as chief executive. Keep Reading
Atlas Copco rental channel has new vice president
Atlas Copco appointed Matt Cadnum as vice president of sales for its rental channel. Cadnum, formerly Atlas Copco Construction Equipment’s aftermarket vice president, is tasked with growing Atlas Copco's breadth of products and services for rental centers across the United States. Cadnum is also responsible for leading the current rental service team and ensuring the team provides support for rental centers. Keep Reading
Liebherr adds dealer in Florida
Liebherr Construction Equipment Co. expanded its distribution footprint, naming International Iron a dealer for central and north Florida. According to a press release, International Iron accepted dealer and service responsibility for Liebherr's full line of earthmoving and material handling equipment. International Iron’s corporate office is located in Apopka, Fla. Keep Reading
House Speaker’s comments point to short-term highway bill
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) indicated Congress would likely have to pass a short-term highway bill, according to the Wall Street Journal. “There’s a conversation going on between Democrats and Republicans, House and Senate, over how to deal with the highway funding authorization and for what period of time,” Boehner says. "I would prefer we have a permanent, five-year or longer highway funding program in place." According to the Wall Street Journal, Boehner gave no indication as to how lawmakers would fund a short-term patch. “My preference is whatever we can get agreement on from all parties involved, which, as you are well aware, is always difficult,” he said. Keep Reading
