What issues are important to you? (The Angle)

What issues are important to you?

The AIA Releases a Call for Issues for the 2008 Legislative Agenda – >What issues are important to you?

To date, 2007 has been a very successful year for the AIA’s advocacy efforts, with significant progress on all of the AIA’s top priorities, from sustainable design to tax relief. Says Vice President, Government and Community Relations, Paul Mendelsohn, “Our successes in 2007 can be traced straight back to the call for issues we made to the membership last summer. Their ideas and commitment helped us craft a winning agenda that we unveiled at Grassroots in February and took to Capitol Hill.”Mendelsohn notes that of the three top priorities for the AIA in 2007, two of them – requiring new Federal buildings to meet the 2030 Challenge and extending the energy efficient commercial buildings tax deduction – have been passed by one or both chambers of Congress, while the third – supporting green infrastructure – was included in the House’s report on legislation passed in the spring. Adds Mendelsohn, “It is only with the support of our 80,000 members that the AIA can remain a credible voice before government at all levels.”

As the AIA prepares its legislative agenda for 2008, the Institute again wants to hear from its members about the issues it should consider the most important. As in past years, AIA leadership and staff will examine the feedback and match proposed issues to legislative and regulatory opportunities at the federal, state, and local levels for action next year, all leading to the launch of the AIA’s agenda at Grassroots 2008.Tell us what issues are important to you that you think the AIA should consider adding to the agenda for the 2008 legislative session. Link to the AIA’s 2007 Congressional issues agenda

Posted by AIA Government Affairs on September 13, 2007 2:11 PM | Permalink

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Comments (17)

Tobin Weaver:

I don't know if qualifies as a legislative issue or not, but the issue most important to me is frivolous lawsuits against architects. Any time there is a lawsuit over a building, the architect gets pulled in, regardless of fault. The insurers find it simpler to settle than fight. But the architect pays for it over the long run in increased insurance premiums. For small practitioners, this can ruin a business.

Posted by Tobin Weaver | September 13, 2007 10:52 PM

Posted on September 13, 2007 22:52

GerryCowart:

Stop Burning Coal!! There are so many reasons not to continue to use this plentiful, cheep form of fossil fuel to generate electricity here in the USA. If we architects can meet the 2030 challenge coal should become an obsolete energy form. We need to wean the power companies off of it. In Georgia our State laws are so week that we find ourselves a magnet for dirty energy plants.

Posted by GerryCowart | September 14, 2007 9:38 AM

Posted on September 14, 2007 09:38

Howard Wong, AIA:

Most construction in the Unites States does not involve Architects. Judiciously crafted Legislation can establish building criteria that promotes Architectural Leadership in projects, e.g. sustainablity standards, urban design/contextual requirements, historical relationships, design review processes.....

Posted by Howard Wong, AIA | September 18, 2007 5:17 AM

Posted on September 18, 2007 05:17

Howard Wong, AIA:

Most construction in the United States does not involve Architects. Judiciously crafted Legislation can promote Architectural Leadership in projects, e.g. sustainability standards, urban design/ contextual requirements, historical relationships, design review processes.....A more holistic approach to building would intrinsically engage Architects.

Posted by Howard Wong, AIA | September 18, 2007 5:38 AM

Posted on September 18, 2007 05:38

Ed Gulick:

First, I'd like to thank AIA for its leadership in the three legislative areas in which it is currently working. It makes me very proud to be an A.A.I.A. I'd like to see increased funding for sustainable building research, a finding that has been echoed by the USGBC. In order to achieve our 2030 goals, we need to ramp up our building science research so new strategies and technologies can be tested and studied in terms of their life-cycle benefits. An area that I think needs particular focus is natural ventilation.

Posted by Ed Gulick | September 21, 2007 10:49 AM

Posted on September 21, 2007 10:49

Julie Clayton, AIA:

Insurance industry reform is a must if small businesses are to survive. As a sole-practitioner, professional liability insurance is my single biggest annual expense due in large part to the reasons mentioned above by Tobin Weaver. Another of my biggest expenses is health insurance -- which I must purchase at exorbitant "individual" rates because there is no access for a sole-practitioner to group coverage rates. The insurance industry should be mandated to allow all of us sole-practitioners nationwide to band together and form a "group" for health insurance purposes. Why should this privilege be limited to employers only?

Posted by Julie Clayton, AIA | September 21, 2007 12:54 PM

Posted on September 21, 2007 12:54

JEROME MORLEY LARSON SR AIA:

Mandate REMOVAL OF ALL OVERHEAD WIRES in the name of homeland security; electricity is absolutely vital in today's electronic age and the $ losses from natural and man-made disasters is far grater thatn the cost of underground, secure wiring! Within THREE YEARS is not unreasonable.

Posted by JEROME MORLEY LARSON SR AIA | September 27, 2007 3:42 PM

Posted on September 27, 2007 15:42

JEROME MORLEY LARSON SR AIA:

Create a NATIONAL ZONING ORDINANCE similar to Building Code; if only so that all terms and definitions are coherent and understandable; written by architects, of course!

Posted by JEROME MORLEY LARSON SR AIA | September 27, 2007 3:46 PM

Posted on September 27, 2007 15:46

JEROME MORLEY LARSON SR AIA:

Mandate REMOVAL OF ALL OVERHEAD WIRES in the name of homeland security; electricity is absolutely vital in today's electronic age and the $ losses from natural and man-made disasters is far greater that the cost of underground, secure wiring! Within THREE YEARS is not unreasonable.

Posted by JEROME MORLEY LARSON SR AIA | September 27, 2007 3:49 PM

Posted on September 27, 2007 15:49

David R Brown III AIA/CCS:

2050: You got to be kidding about what topic should be on an AIA agenda? I just returned from Solar Power 2007 and am more than just a little afraid of the issue of Global Warming. This is THE ISSUE of the planet. Sustainable design, Solar Power, Wind Power, any renewable power that will defer an impending march to the DEATH OF THIS PLANET IN ~2050 is THE ISSUE!

Posted by David R Brown III AIA/CCS | September 27, 2007 7:37 PM

Posted on September 27, 2007 19:37

Edmond Akiona, AIA:

More needs to done on lowering the Health Care costs for small frims!!

Posted by Edmond Akiona, AIA | September 27, 2007 8:24 PM

Posted on September 27, 2007 20:24

taylor cockerham aia:

visitability, making single family homes accessible or partially accessible, must be on the 2008 legislative agenda.

Posted by taylor cockerham aia | September 27, 2007 10:02 PM

Posted on September 27, 2007 22:02

Gerard Lee, AIA LEED AP:

First I did like to thank the AIA and it's advocacy group for all their hard work.
We should continue to push sustainability and to seek further legislation for the sake of our environment. Make more architects aware of Architecture 2030 and help educate local governments about the need for sustainability.
Global warming is something we need to address now.
Another issue is the erosion of the value of architects. This has been highlighted by the recent nominations for the post of Architect of the Capitol. That a non architect would even be considered a candidate is a prime example of how our profession has declined in the eyes of the public.
Yes, our state boards are more than able to prosecute non licensed practitioners who hold themselves out to be architects. Isn't it about time we did something about everyone other industry that tries to throw architect or architecture into their terminology. For example: network architects, circuitry architects, architect of the war, etc etc. It may seem trivial but nobody uses the term doctors or lawyers in such a frivolous manner. Stop the erosion and you will stop the chance of the Architect of the Capitol being anyone other than an architect. Sole practitioners with firms smaller than 5 people are having a hard enough time. We do not need a 3% with holding on our fees on public projects. Plus we need public clients to be better educated about what architects are capable of. Small firms with a good background of experience should be encouraged to participate more and be given chances during an RFQ. It is not only larger firms that are capable of carrying out public work. Many of us have a strong believe in public architecture and being involved with our communities. Again, many thanks for advocating on our behalf. it is good to see our AIA fees being put to use in a way that helps us.

Posted by Gerard Lee, AIA LEED AP | September 28, 2007 10:46 AM

Posted on September 28, 2007 10:46

Stuart Martin Berger, AIA CSI-CCS:

Urging every State Board of Architects or Departments of Professional Regulation to notify the computer technology industry, by company and then by individual, to cease their use of the term architecture and title architect, when describing their work and titling their workers. Every state has laws defining the word architecture and how it can be used in business and the title architect and who can use this title. There is no better authority to protect our professional venue and title from compromise.

Posted by Stuart Martin Berger, AIA CSI-CCS | September 28, 2007 12:41 PM

Posted on September 28, 2007 12:41

Jon Zellweger, Assoc. AIA:

PUBLIC EDUCATION >> Increasingly, in my conversations with laypeople, I have been reminded of the lack of understanding of the capabilities and services offered by Architects. Most people have no idea what the AIA does; my perception is that this is because it only indirectly affects their lives. >> I believe that it in order to be held as a valuable component to our communities (whether it be the Architect of the Capital or otherwise), we must do a better job educating the public as to what we can help them accomplish. The power we wield in legislature or in garnering better wages more on par with our engineering consultants, doctors or lawyers is in direct proportion to the PERCEIVED VALUE of our services. Architectural Education (along with all the arts) in primary schools is of great importance by establishing early awareness of one's built environment and creating a system of qualitative values in our citizenry. I believe this should continue with active community forums offered by the AIA; a continuing education of sorts for those who are not design professionals. >> Accessibility Issues, Sustainability Standards, Insurance Reform are all resultants of an increased awareness and POSITIVE DEMAND for what we do best!

Posted by Jon Zellweger, Assoc. AIA | October 1, 2007 9:19 AM

Posted on October 1, 2007 09:19

Chris Rizzuti, AIA:

North American Union / Amero- I would like the AIA to recognize and oppose an effort currently underway within the State Department to create a North American union (similar to the European Union) comprised of Canada, the US and Mexico. This is an unconstitutional and Extra-congressional activity fully sanctioned by the Executive branch. The proposed union of the three countries would seriously undermine the AIA's historical efforts to create a top notch profession. More importantly, it presents a serious threat to our Constitution. Finally, the introduction of the Amero to replace the Dollar in coordination with the establishment of the Union will cause financial catastrophy to most Archtitects. We must resist this effort at every opportunity for the preservation of our profession as we know it. I urge all AIA members to educate themselves about this subject. Information about the North American Union is readily available on the Web. Although it may not seem like our area of advocacy, it is the single issue most likely to sabotage all of our other efforts. Go to www.spp.gov if you don't believe it.

Posted by Chris Rizzuti, AIA | October 30, 2007 6:54 PM

Posted on October 30, 2007 18:54

Shawn Emmons, Assoc. AIA:

Instead of a specific issue, a couple of principles: Liberty is more fragile than the environment. Sovereignty is more valuable than a vague feeling of moral superiority. Stop coal? AEP Appalachian Power indicates in its Consumer Circuit Publication from April 2007 that 75% of its energy generated comes from coal: https://www.appalachianpower.com/global/docs/BillInserts/2007/04/CC_APCO_TN.pdf What will be the cost? The consequences? A quotation from the green movement: “We need, in the next twenty-five years or so, to do something never before done. We need to consciously redesign the entire material basis of our civilization.” -Alex Steffen, cofounder of Worldchanging I submit to you that the goal is not merely changing habits of energy consumption; rather, it involves, fundamentally, destroying the greatness we have built over the past 400 years. Perhaps when we suggest priorities for a legislative agenda, we should be able to identify a constitutional basis. Amendment 10:The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. A Virginian, Sic Semper Tyrannus

Posted by Shawn Emmons, Assoc. AIA | December 14, 2007 9:00 AM

Posted on December 14, 2007 09:00

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