Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/756888
by Therese Dunphy | Editor-in-Chief | tdunphy@randallreilly.com SPECIAL REPORT 38 AGGREGATES MANAGER / December 2016 O n Nov. 8, Donald J. Trump defied all polls and pundits to be elected as the 45th president of the United States. The morning after the election, before all state voting tallies were final or winners of closely contested races had been determined, the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association host- ed a town hall meeting entitled "From Congress to the Quarries" to highlight candidate results, ballot initiatives, and opportunities created by outcomes already confirmed. "It was — on balance — a very good night if you're an NSSGA member and concerned about the issues we are active on with our advocacy," said Mike Johnson, NSSGA president and CEO. Presidential priorities During Trump's acceptance speech, in- frastructure issues were highlighted as an early priority. "We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hos- pitals, which will become, by the way, second to none," the president-elect said. "We will put millions of our people to work as we rebuild it. We are going to get to work immediately for the American people." Johnson said he expects a $1 tril- lion infrastructure spending bill to be introduced during the first 100 days of the Trump administration. In addition, executive orders from President Obama will be quickly dispatched. "He already has put together a list of Obama executive orders that he plans to repeal in the first week. A number of things our industry cares about will be on that list," Johnson said. "We intend to hold his feet to the fire on regulatory reform. Now is the time. There are no more excuses." Executive orders on the following top- ics are likely to be repealed, Johnson said: • Waters of the U.S., • Silica, • MSHA's civil penalties, • MSHA's pattern of violations, and • The workplace exam rule. "It really will be an opportunity for significant regulatory reform on the issues we care about most," Johnson said. "In addition, we can be assured there will be a new head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration." In fact, agency heads will likely change across the board, and NSSGA plans to make suggestions to the Trump transi- tion team on some of those appointees. Johnson said he would like to see the new MSHA chief come from within the aggregates industry. With the same party in control of both Congress and the White House, Johnson noted that the industry needs to consider whether this is the time to open the Mine Act and seek significant reform there as well. What does it mean for the aggregates industry? Association experts share their insights. Election 2016 Photo Credit: a katz / Shutterstock.com