Hundreds of Associated Builders and Contractors members are expected to be in Washington, D.C., today through Thursday for the group’s annual legislative conference.

“We plan a show of force this year to educate lawmakers on the merit shop philosophy of free enterprise and open competition,” said 2011 ABC National Chairman Michael J. Uremovich, president of Great Lakes Energy Consultants LLC in Manhattan, Ill. “We’ll  be talking with them about the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act, a bill that will guarantee that all qualified contractors and skilled workers, regardless of labor affiliation, have an equal opportunity to bid on and construct federal and federally assisted construction projects.”

Identical ABC-supported bills have been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate.

Members will also be lobbying Congress on the need to repeal the new health care law, eliminating pro-organized labor bias on the National Labor Relations Board and tax relief for contractors.