b"From ContractorCongr * * *to Congressman Reid Ribble (R-WI) bas been serving in thee Hous of Representatives since 2010. He is a one-time oumer ofthri ng avifamily-oumed roofing business, which bisfounded more father formerof than 50 years ago, and apresidentthe National Roofing Contractors Association. His nephew, Troy Ribb!.e, currently oums the business, Security-Luebke Roofing z'n Kaukauna, WI (see the August Midwest Roofer (MR), p. 22.). MR spoke to the Congressman prior to theelection. presidential MR: Regarding the upcoming election, what does an Obama or Romney win mean to the roofing industry? What should roofing contractors be most concerned about at this juncture? Ifisreelected, the roofing industry ought to expect President Obama the status quo.Asfar as the economy that we have had over the last 3 years? It's been very slow growth-1.5% GDP growth and very retarded economic growth. President Obama has had ato work with chance both republicans and democrats in Congress. We have seen his ability to do so and, in my perspective, it has been more bad [than good] for the construction industry. We should expect more of this, which means continued slow growth. MR: Explain 'bad for the construction industry?' Iflack confidence to expand their businesses and invest in people capital, equipment, or buildings, it is going to affect the construction industry. You are not seeing businesses building many new buildings in the form of capital investment. They are sitting on their money. In fact, $1.7 trillion of private-sector money is held atin the United States banks right now. Businesses are in a holding pattern. Ifwins,are going to see him move relatively Governor Romneyyou quickly to ataxpolicy and regulatory environpro-business, pro-growth ment. It does not mean that there is going to be aof deregulation, lot The construction industrybeen one of the hardest hit industries as a but it is going to look like aenvironment in which electedhas regulatory officials and Congress have more say than bureaucrats who are underresult of this downturn and it has not recovered yet. the executive branch.The economy does not look good for construction going forward, Congress will have to approve major rules and regulations,unless we see some of the pro-growth policies put in place so that people which they are not [right now. IfProtection Agencyhave more confidence to spend the money that they've been sitting doing]the Environmental on for aIt is aThe American people have (EPA) or the U.S. Department of Laborgoing to promulgate awhile.confidence problem. wererule that costs the economy more than $100 million, Congress would havehave lost confidence in their government. Theynot lost confidence in the ability of this economy to recover; they have lost confidence in to sign off on that. Those are the type of reforms thatthe Governor Romney would like to see as president. Those would spur economic growth ingovernment's ability to allow it to recover. this country and, Iwould be good for the roofing industry. believe,MR: Is there anything in specific that roofing contractors MR: How would you characterize the current state of theshould be concerned about? economy and its effect on small business?have Thereisnothing specific that Ibeen made aware of by the indusAlthough there are parts of the country seeing some growth, the broadtry. Look at some of the work that the EPA is doing and some of the rules sweep of the nation'shas been very slow and not particularlythat they are promulgating, such as their planning on implementing economy Maximum Achievable Control Technology Standards, aclean-air friendly to the construction industry, whether it is new home construc new tion, new commercial construction,even remodeling.policy for commercial boilers. It is going to affect almost every industry or in the Midwest that burns coal for generating power steam. As the 10www.mrca.org- Midwest Roofer"