Masonry Magazine August 2005 Page. 15
PARTICIPANTS' REACTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
A personal meeting in the flesh creates that much more of an impression.
Speakers
During the MCAA Legislative Conference, representatives from OSHA, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Republican National Committee, as well as congressmen and senators from Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Texas and Virginia met with participants. The following are some excerpts from a few of these meetings.
Mike Dullaime, Political Director, Republican National Committee
Kim Lazor, OSHA Chief of Staff
Kim Lar, OSHA Chief of Staff
With statistics for injuries and fatalities going down, OSHA is pleased with the numbers, but they have a long way to go. "We're making good progress and still doing the right thing, but we can't let up," Kim Lazor urged participants. "My goal is to continue to see these injury and fatality numbers drop." With a background in OSHA cooperative programs and seeing them as beneficial for both the agency and mason contractors, she stressed a continuation of Voluntary Protection Programs (VPPs), alliances and other lines of open communication between the groups. She later stated, "We are hoping that if we work cooperatively there will be less problems, and this will provide a relief from inspections"
"The Legislative Conference is a value that cannot be understood without participation. At a time where the competitive Industries continue to spend time and money to enhance their presence in the political arena, it is important that we build relationships with our congressmen and the chairpersons of the committees that directly influence our business. Business plans, small business, immigrant workforce and Social Security are some of the legislation that directly affects our businesses and employees.
MCAA members need this forum and need to participate to increase our presence in Washington. Your participation will help guide our industry. Without your participation, others will guide your industry!"
Tony Darkangelo
Executive Director, Masonry Institute of Michigan
"My favorite part of the Legislative Conference was to be able to see the difference between the White House and Capitol Hill as far as what their philosophies are on the different issues that our nation is faced with, especially the Social Security issue. The White House is very positive; they say It's going to happen. Then you go to Capitol Hill and you listen to your representatives and senators, and they think maybe pieces of it are going to happen. And these people are members of the same party.
I just found that to be really interesting From one end of the street to the other end of the street, what the difference in philosophy can be and the optimism of the individuals working for each branch of our government."
Mackie Bounds, Brazos Masonry, Inc.
MCAA Treasurer and member of Texas Masonry Association
"I think that one of the most important things that hopefully gets accomplished here is bringing back the joint relationship of the National Concrete Masonry Association along with the MCAA. The two groups had a mutual disagreement many years ago, and it's time to heal those differences and get back together and unite to heal the industry."
Mark Kemp, Superior Masonry Builders
MCAA Regional Vice President and Chairman of the Silica Task Force