OLYMPIA— The Association of Washington Business offered the following statement regarding Gov. Gregoire’s budget announcement and proposed half-cent increase in the state sales tax:

“Today’s announcement seeking a temporary half-cent increase in the state sales tax is not surprising given the difficult situation we find ourselves in. We don’t envy the governor or the Legislature; this is not easy, and it will require tough, bipartisan action when legislators convene next week, and again in January,” said Don Brunell, president of the Association of Washington Business.

“The governor has reached out to us [AWB] to help solve this challenge, and we’ve told her we want to be a part of the solution. That means everything must be on the table —meaning reforms and revenue. Just as voters want to know every savings, every efficiency has been realized by state government, so do our members,” he added.

“We’re anxious to see what other proposals will be coming out of Olympia in the coming days and weeks, and will be meeting with Gov. Gregoire and members of the Legislature to help craft solutions.”

About the Association of Washington Business
Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 7,600 members representing 650,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit http://www.awb.org/.

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