Greg's observation how Washington is in a pretty happy shape which trickles down to our benefit.
Apart from, perhaps, a handful of charmed defense contractors, the relationship that most businesses have with government is anything less than a positive and fulfilling one. Not only does government tap a significant amount of business income through a myriad of taxes, it also extends its bureaucratic reach into employee management, record-keeping and other aspects of day-to-day business operations. For most businesses, the government is like the meddling, overpaid, trouble-making partner we could do well without.
While it is unlikely we'll get the federal monkey off our backs anytime soon, for much of the past year, business in general--and the construction industry in particular--has enjoyed a day in the sun thanks to a business-friendly administration. During the first year of the Bush administration, the federal government has been particularly responsive to the interests of the construction industry, scuttling meddlesome regulations and overhauling provisions in the tax code. While it's not known how long this day in the sun will last, as long as the sun keeps shining, industry organizations are pursuing a proactive legislative agenda in hopes of winning gains on other fronts. But it will be hard topping the benevolence already demonstrated this past year by lawmakers.