Associated Constructors of Maine President Jeffrey Ohler says one of his goals is changing the association’s “reactive stance” to legislation, but then says derailing the new Maine State Housing Authority contractor standards is an objective.

The standards require contractors to pay prevailing wages, properly classify workers, provide on-the-job training in larger projects, post job listings and provide workers compensation insurance. Maybe ACM considers these “extra” requirements, but most are required by law.

The new item in the standards is an incentive – not requirement – encouraging health insurance for workers. It allows developers to earn one to four points, out of a possible 119, based on the number of contractors they use that offer a minimum level of health insurance to workers.

Encouraging health insurance is consistent with Maine’s policy of increasing coverage for workers. We should not spend public money to finance affordable housing in ways that increases taxes and health insurance premiums for others because of more uncompensated care and Medicaid costs due to uninsured workers in public works projects.

ACM-supported legislation would add a year to the time it takes to develop affordable housing by making rule adoption difficult and compromises MSHA’s ability to issue bonds to finance affordable housing.

Ohler says a major problem the construction industry faces is a shortage of young workers. A major goal of MSHA’s contractor standards is to provide the industry with a skilled work force by encouraging such things as on-the-job training and health insurance.

Dale McCormick, director,

Maine State Housing Authority, Augusta

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