Happy New Year and Get Ready for a Bumpy Legislative Session—Stay in Touch with AWBThis is the first Fast Facts of 2003, so happy New Year and get ready for a very difficult legislative session. Combine the state revenue shortfall with higher costs for workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, liability coverage and health care. Gov. Gary Locke and lawmakers also have to be careful not to kill our rather slow, deliberate recovery from the recession our state and country have been stuck in for the past couple years. Last year, the issue for business was improving competitiveness. This year it is a matter of survival. Stay tuned and get ready to contact your Legislators. Stay up to speed at
www.awb.org.
Suggestions for the AG, L&I and Secretary of Transportation—AWB Meeting With Them Soon!
Many of you have sent helpful comments and suggestions to AWB’s Don Brunell and Gary Chandler to pass on to various agency directors, lawmakers, the Governor and other state elected officials. In the next week, we will be meeting with Attorney General Christine Gregoire, still Director of the Dept. of Labor and Industries (L&I) Gary Moore, Dept. of Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald, and Ferry System Director Mike Thorne. We welcome your comments and suggestions, which we will gladly pass on to them. Send your comments and suggestions to
DonB@awb.org or
GaryC@awb.org. Thank you
Former Legislators Mary Ann Mitchell and Bill Gissberg Die
On a sad note, former House Transportation Committee co-chair, Mary Ann Mitchell (R-Federal Way) died of cancer last week. Rep Mitchell was 69 and was very instrumental in developing transportation funding policy. A memorial service for state Rep. Maryann Mitchell will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 11 at Steel Lake Presbyterian Church, 1829 S. 308th St., Federal Way. Also, passing was former Senator Bill Gissberg (D-Snohomish). Gissberg, a powerhouse in the Legislature for 21 years. He died Monday after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 79. Gissberg represented parts of Snohomish County in the 39th Legislative District from 1952 to 1973. Funeral services for William A. Gissberg will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Solie Funeral Home, 3301 Colby Ave., Everett.
Why Won’t the Martinac Proposal Work? AWB Wants Answers From DOT!
One of the questions AWB President Don Brunell plans to ask Dept. of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Doug MacDonald and Ferry System Director Mike Thorne next week is why DOT is dismissing an idea that will save Washington taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and bring improvements to the ferry services on the Puget Sound. The proposal would replace four small, outdated ferries with brand new Island Class boats built in Washington by long-time Tacoma shipbuilder J.M. Martinac who hires union workers. “We want to know why the Martinac proposal won’t work,” AWB President Don Brunell said. “We view the Martinac proposal much the same as what Weyerhaeuser proposed when it constructed the new I-5 interchange at Dupont near Ft. Lewis. It was a departure from the way DOT normally does business and saved millions. Whether it is Martinac or another shipyard that builds the ferries, the new approach seems to make sense.”
Executive Committee Meets at AWB on Jan. 10 - WSU President Rawlins to Address Group!
AWB’s Executive Committee will meet on Friday, Jan. 10 in AWB’s new offices. Washington State University President Lane Rawlins will be the luncheon speaker. To attend the luncheon, please contact AWB’s Alisha Boggs at 360-943-1600 or
AlishaB@awb.org.
Building Dedication and Open House on Jan. 10 –You’re Welcomed to Attend!
AWB will dedicate its new building in Olympia at 5:00 p.m. Jan. 10. We will have tours, refreshments and hors d’oeuvres for attending members. Please contact AWB’s Alisha Boggs at 360-943-1600 or
AlishaB@awb.org before Jan. 6 if you plan to attend.
Still Time to Contribute to the Building and Have Your Name Added to the Tree
Thanks to many AWB members who contributed to AWB’s building fund. The “Giving Tree” in the lobby of our new building is filling fast. There is still time to contribute and have your name engraved on the tree. To contribute, contact AWB’s Jody Waldum at 360-943-1600 or
JodyW@awb.org. Thank you!
Settlement Reached on Shorelines Management---AWB
The Association of Washington Business, Washington Environmental Council and the Dept. of Ecology recently reached an agreement over the shorelines management rules after seven years of litigation and multiple legislative interventions. One of the most noticeable differences in the shorelines policy is the absence of the two-path approach that gave local governments an option in how they developed new shoreline master programs. In the final agreements, there is one path. There are many more details you should know. For more information, contact AWB’s Kristen Sawin at (360) 943-1600 or
KristenS@awb.org.
AWB Workers’ Comp Committee to Meet – Be There!
The next AWB Workers’ Compensation Committee is scheduled for January 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at AWB’s newly constructed building in Olympia. Sen. Jim Honeyford (R-Grandview), the new chair of the Senate Commerce & Trade Committee (named formerly Senate Labor & Commerce Committee) is confirmed to speak at the meeting on his perspective regarding workers' comp issues for 2003 and respond to the Dept. of Labor and Industries (L&I) proposed reform package. Also invited to the meeting is Vicki Kennedy from L&I to discuss the department’s workers’ comp reform package for the upcoming legislative session. The committee will also receive an update on the subcommittee that was established to develop finance options for the workers’ comp system (private carriers and group self insurance) and finalize its legislative strategies for the 2003-2005 session. Contact AWB’s Shannon Garland at (360) 943-1600 or
ShannonG@awb.org.
Gov. Locke Releases Budget Plan---Many of the Changes AWB Advocates are in Budget
Gov. Gary Locke released a proposed $23 billion biennial budget plan, which also covers a $2.3 billion revenue shortfall. This year marks the first implementation of a plan Gov. Locke calls the “Priorities of Government (POG)” used to construct the massive fiscal investment. The POG focuses state spending on only the necessary state-funded activities. “We're funding what matters most in getting the results people want from our government-education, jobs, healthy families, safe communities, protection of vulnerable children and adults, and common sense,” said Gov. Locke. The two-year expenditure breaks down like this:
• $10.6 billion to educate 1 million public school students.
• $2.7 billion to help 215,000 people receive college educations here and to expand enrollments in high-demand fields.
• $3.7 billion to strengthen the public health system. This will provide medical care for more than 900,000 vulnerable children and adults, and pay for health insurance for 70,000 low-income people.
• $3.8 billion to preserve the safety net for vulnerable children and adults. This will provide protection against abuse, neglect, emergency food and housing, mental health care, foster care, and nursing homes.
• $1.4 billion for public safety, which involves incarcerating 15,500 dangerous offenders in our prisons, continual supervision of 16,800 higher-risk offenders who have been released from prison, and keeping dangerous sex offenders in secure facilities. This also funds the Washington State Patrol.
• $2.5 billion will go to the state construction budget, which may create more than 13,000 private sector jobs. It includes building new facilities that will attempt to lure new businesses to Washington communities and building more classroom space at state colleges and universities. Monies from this pot will also go to making investments in workforce training in the high-demand fields industries of the future need.
• $3 billion will be paid to preserve and maintain the state transportation system.
For more information, contact AWB’s Tom Dooley at (360) 943-1600 or
TomD@awb.org.
AWB Legislative Reception Approaching Fast – Become a Sponsor Today!
The annual Association of Washington Business Legislative Reception is slated for Feb. 12 at the WestCoast Hotel in Olympia. “The AWB Legislative Reception is one of the best venues to meet your Legislators, state elected officials and agency directors face-to-face to discuss business issues and priorities,” said AWB Board Chair Heidi Stanley. “Historically, as many as 80 percent of our senators and representatives attend the reception, giving it the reputation of being the business community’s reception for the Legislature each year.” The success of the Legislative Reception comes from AWB member sponsorship. Sponsors of the event are recognized before, during and after the reception in AWB’s newsletter. To find out more on becoming a sponsor or to register, contact AWB’s Alisha Boggs at (360) 943-1600 or
AlishaB@awb.org.
Health Care Committee Meetings Scheduled – Don’t Miss Out!
The AWB Health Care Committee meeting is scheduled for January 9th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., in the Premera Conference Room at AWB. Senator Alex Deccio will present his perspectives on health care reform for 2003 and respond to the Governor's budget proposal. The group will then finalize AWB's strategy for health care reform in the upcoming session. With health care premiums on the rise, AWB members can’t afford to not attend. Contact AWB’s Shannon Garland at (360) 943-1600 or
ShannonG@awb.org.
2003 Legislator Information Is Now Available On WWW.AWB.ORG – Use It Today!
AWB’s website now has the most updated resources available to help members keep in touch with their elected representatives. For Senate members, go to
http://www.awb.org/ga/senatelinks.asp. For House members, go to
http://www.awb.org/ga/houselinks.asp. Users have one-click access to Bill status and news information for every legislator, and e-mail addresses are also provided. A new link has also been provided to a "Forums" feature on
www.jobmakers.com. All 149 Legislators have their own public message board that requires registration to access. Contact AWB’s Lex Nepomuceno at (360) 943-1600 or
AlexisN@awb.org.
Teachers Should Stay in Classrooms on Jan. 14 and Find Other Ways to Make Their Point --- See this week’s President’s Perspective at www.awb.org.
