Newsletter 2018-19 May 11, 2018 ANNUAL CAWV SCHOLARSHIP GOLF OUTING JUNE 1 - MORNING FLIGHT ALMOST SOLD OUT The deadline is approaching to register for the annual CAWV Scholarship Golf Outing which will be held Friday, June 1, at Berry Hills Country Club in Charleston. We are limited to 20 "Sixsomes" for both the 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. starting times. For morning golfers, a luncheon will be held immediately after play. For the afternoon golfers, dinner will be held immediately after play. Awards will be presented at the luncheon for the morning flight and at dinner for the afternoon flight. All proceeds from the golf outing benefit the CAWV Scholarship Foundation. Members can register by clicking here. Deadline to register is Friday, May 18. ELECTION RESULTS FOR 2018 PRIMARY ELECTION Voters cast their ballots across West Virginia Tuesday in the 2018 Primary Election. Voter turnout statewide was 24 percent (up from 19 percent in the most recent non-presidential primary in 2014). Approximately 291,000 of West Virginia's 1.2 million registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s races. In the race for US Senate, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey won the GOP nomination with 35 percent of the vote, defeating Congressman Evan Jenkins (29 percent) and coal executive Don Blankenship (20 percent). Morrisey carried 32 of the state's 55 counties. Morrisey will now face incumbent Senator Joe Manchin in November. Manchin easily won the Democratic nomination, defeating Paula Swearengin by a margin of 70 percent to 30 percent. In the race for the U.S. Congressional Third District (the seat being vacated by Congressman Evan Jenkins), state Delegate Carol Miller won the contested GOP race with 24 percent of the vote, defeating Delegate Rupie Phillips (19 percent), former GOP Party Chairman Conrad Lucas (18 percent), and Delegate Marty Gearheart (18 percent). Miller will face State Senator Richard Ojeda in November. Ojeda defeated Delegate Shirley Love in the Democratic Primary by a margin of 52 to 25 percent. In the U.S. Congressional First District, WVU law professor Kendra Fershee defeated businessman Ralph Baxter by a margin of 47 to 38 percent to claim the Democratic nomination. Fershee will face incumbent Congressman David McKinley in November. McKinley was unopposed for the GOP nomination. Congressman Alex Mooney will face former Hillary Clinton staffer Talley Sergent in November for the U.S. Second Congressional District. Sergent defeated Aaron Scheinberg by a margin of 62 to 38 percent to win the Democratic nomination. Incumbent Mooney was unopposed for the GOP nomination. The West Virginia state legislature will see many new faces in January 2019. Nineteen incumbent House Delegates (including current House Speaker Tim Armstead) did not seek re- election this year, due to legislative retirements or choosing to run for other offices. Three incumbent State Senators were defeated in the Primary Election. Delegate Bill Hamilton (Upshur County) defeated incumbent Senator Robert Karnes in the 11th Senatorial District by a margin of 61 to 39 percent. Hamilton will face Democrat Laura Finch in November. Incumbent Senator Mark Drennan, recently appointed to the Senate to replace long-time Senator Mike Hall, was defeated in his attempt to retain his Senate seat by newcomer Eric Tarr in the 4th Senatorial District by a margin of 56 to 44 percent. Tarr will face the Democratic nominee, attorney Brian Prim, in November. Senator Lynne Arvon, a former House Delegate who was recently appointed to replace former Senator Jeff Mullins, lost her bid to retain her Senate seat and was defeated by Rollan Roberts in the 9th Senatorial District. Roberts will now face former Senator Bill Wooten in November, with Wooten winning the Democratic nomination. Only two incumbent House Delegates seeking re-election were defeated in Tuesday’s Primary Election. Incumbent Delegate Phil Isner failed to win the Democratic nomination in the 43rd House District. Delegate Chanda Adkins lost her bid for the GOP nomination in the 31st House District. All other incumbent House members seeking re-election won their nomination. See below links to unofficial statewide election results: http://elections.wvmetronews.com/home.cfm http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/74487/Web02-state.195772/#/ WEST VIRGINIA HAS 8TH HIGHEST GDP GROWTH IN 2017 Recently released information from the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that in 2017, West Virginia was tied for the 8th highest GDP growth in the nation. West Virginia's GDP grew at a rate of 2.6% for the year, far outpacing the GDP growth of all five of West Virginia's border states. West Virginia also had the second highest GDP growth east of the Mississippi, tied with Massachusetts and following only Georgia (2.7%). AGC WEIGHS IN WITH TREASURY DEPARTMENT ON PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AGC joined industry partners this week in expressing concern to the Secretary of the Treasury on a provision in the recent tax reform law that may be interpreted as having the unintended consequence of creating a substantial disincentive for private investment in public infrastructure through the use of public-private partnerships (P3s). The letter highlights the fact that the interpretation of section 163(j) of the tax bill could cause substantially increased costs at all levels of government as they pursue P3 projects. Section 163(j) would cause the effective tax rate on P3s to skyrocket by restricting the P3 project company’s deductions for interest payments. AGC, along with industry partners, is asking Treasury to issue guidance to clarify the intent of section 163(j) and offered suggested guidance that is consistent with the tax bill and its legislative intents. CONSTRUCTION COSTS SURGE IN APRIL AS NEW TARIFFS AND OTHER TRADE MEASURES LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN MATERIALS PRICES The cost of goods used in construction jumped in April at the fastest year-over-year rate since 2011, with ongoing increases for a wide range of building materials, including many that are subject to proposed tariffs that could drive prices still higher and cause scarcities, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released this week. Association officials said that the new data indicates many firms are already being squeezed by higher materials prices that they are unable to pass along to their customers. The producer price index for inputs to construction industries, goods—a measure of all materials used in construction projects including items consumed by contractors, such as diesel fuel— rose 1.0 percent in April alone and 6.4 percent over 12 months. The year-over-year increase was the steepest since 2011, the economist noted. Meanwhile, the producer price index for nonresidential construction—a measure of what contractors say they would charge to put up a mix of school, office, warehouse, industrial and health care buildings—increased 1.1 percent for the month and 4.2 percent year-over-year. From April 2017 to April 2018, the producer price index jumped by 11.9 percent for aluminum mill shapes, 11.0 percent for lumber and plywood and 7.4 percent for steel mill products. The U.S. has been in a dispute with Canada over lumber imports, has imposed tariffs on several types of steel and has announced or recently imposed additional tariffs—not reflected in the April price index—on steel, aluminum and numerous Chinese construction products. Other construction inputs that rose sharply in price from April 2017 to April 2018 include diesel fuel, 41.6 percent; copper and brass mill shapes, 10.5 percent; gypsum products, 7.5 percent; ready- mix concrete, 6.9 percent; and truck transportation of freight, 6.0 percent. Association officials said the Trump Administration's tariffs pose a real threat to the continued growth of the construction industry. As steel, aluminum, and wood prices continue to surge, contractors will be forced to charge more, potentially discouraging or delaying new infrastructure and development projects. Members can click here to view producer price indexes for construction. HOW STEEL AND ALUMINUM TARIFFS HURT CONSTRUCTION On the latest episode of The ConstructorCast, AGC explores President Trump's recent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. AGC talks with Collin Janich, AGC of America's Manager of Political & International Affairs, about how the tariffs have begun to hurt construction companies' bottom lines, negatively impact construction employment, and what AGC is doing to fight them. Stream or download the episode here or search for "ConstructorCast" in your podcasts app. CAWV ANNUAL MEETING JULY 12-15 - SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE Members are still able to benefit from the Early Bird Registration discount for the CAWV Annual Meeting, which will be held July 12-15 at The Greenbrier. The meeting will feature many activities for CAWV members, along with a golf tournament, trap / fishing tournament, children's program, in addition to all the amenities offered at The Greenbrier. Both meeting and room reservation forms are available online at http://www.cawv.org/events/annual-meeting.html. All registered attendees will receive more information including an activity sign-up sheet next week. Sponsorships are available. Do not miss this opportunity to be a part of one of the association’s signature events. Members interested in sponsoring this event can find sponsorship forms and information attached to this week’s Newsletter. Contact Cheryl Clark at (304) 342-1166 or email [email protected]. 2018 / 2019 CAWV MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY UNDERWAY - VERIFY YOUR LISTING IMMEDIATELY The 2018-2019 CAWV Membership Directory and Buyers Guide is currently underway. Members received by mail this week a letter containing their listing for the upcoming directory and over 70 members have already responded. Please return your listing letter IMMEDIATELY.