Invitations Extended to Governor-Elect to Address the Board on Dec. 8 in Seattle
Hopefully, by Dec. 8 Washington will have a governor-elect. AWB has sent an invitation to the new governor-elect to address the Board at lunch that day. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Davis at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferD@awb.org.

AWB to Argue at Washington Supreme Court for Cockle Relief - Live on TVW!
Tomorrow morning, AWB General Counsel Kris Tefft is joining the Dept of Labor & Industries in oral arguments before the Washington Supreme Court in Gallo v. L&I. The case seeks a major expansion of the 2001 Cockle decision which redefined “wages” for workers’ comp to include health insurance benefits. Gallo seeks to add many more fringe benefits to the definition of “wages.” AWB is asking the Supreme Court to overturn Cockle, or at a minimum, refuse to expand it in this case. The arguments will broadcast at 9 a.m. Check TVW’s website, www.tvw.org. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

AWB Member Wins Important Asbestos Exposure Case
Last week the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I, released its decision in Shellenbarger v. Longview Fibre, refusing to expand the liability of employers under our state’s costly workers’ compensation system in the context of asbestos exposure. This is the first case in Washington history decided by an appeals court dealing with employer responsibilities under workers’ compensation when it comes to asbestos exposure claims. AWB, along with the Washington Self-Insurers Association (WSIA) asked the court to reject the plaintiff’s claim. For more information, contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

AWB Encourages Agencies to Reconsider Flame Retardant Ban
The Department of Ecology and Department of Health released their draft chemical action plan (CAP) for polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants last month, which recommends banning products in Washington state that contain PBDEs. PBDE flame retardants are used in consumer products to meet stringent safety standards and have saved numerous lives and decreased injuries caused by fires for many years. For some consumer products, effective alternatives do not exist. From our perspective, Ecology and Health have over-relied on the precautionary principle in assessing potential risks to human health and the environment caused by PBDEs. In written comments submitted to the agencies, AWB is asking the departments to withdraw their recommendation to ban PBDEs and insure they have adequately studied consumer safety issues prior to going forward with the chemical action plan. For more information and to receive a copy of AWB comments on the draft chemical action plan, contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Moore to Address Board on State Collective Bargaining Agreement on Dec. 8
Gary Moore, the former state lead negotiator on the state’s first collective bargaining agreement will address AWB’s Board of Directors on Dec. 8. To attend the meeting, contact Jennifer Davis at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferD@awb.org.

Florida Approves $6.15 Minimum Wage – Will Lose Jobs Like Washington State!
Florida voters approved a statewide $6.15 minimum wage - $1 higher than the federal rate and $1.11 lower than Washington - that goes into effect in six months. The amendment also indexed the wage so it will float annually with the economy. Too bad Florida didn’t learn a lesson from the negative effect Washington’s high minimum wages have had on its economy.

AWB Files Friend-of-Court Brief in Important Water Rights Case
Today, AWB filed an amicus curiae (“Friend of the Court”) brief in the Court of Appeals, Division III in Spokane urging it to strike down as unconstitutional the Dept. of Ecology’s water rights relinquishment statute. AWB believes the statute is unconstitutional because it allows Ecology to take a water right without providing the owner due process prior to the relinquishment order. The case involves AWB member Motley-Motley, Inc., a small Whitman Co. business. The brief can be read on AWB’s website: www.awb.org/law/AWBMotleyAmicus.pdf. For more information, contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

Department of Revenue Hearings – Starting This Week!
Public hearings and public meetings on Dept. of Revenue rules will be held at the Capitol Plaza Building in Olympia at 1:30 p.m. The schedule is: Thursday, Nov. 18 (WAC 458-12-050 - Omitted property and omitted value, WAC 458-12-110 - Listing of personal property by the assessor, Penalties for failing to list personal property and for making a false or fraudulent listing); Friday, Nov. 22 (WAC 458-20-240 - Manufacturer's new employee tax credits and WAC 458-18-220 – Refunds, Rate of Interest); Tuesday, Nov. 30 (WAC 458-10-050 - Continuing education requirements, Appraisal practice and ethics); Monday, Dec. 6 (WAC 458-30-262 - Agricultural land valuation, Interest rate, Property tax component and WAC 458-30-590 - Rate of inflation, Publication, Interest rate, Calculation); and Monday, Dec. 20 (Repealing WAC 458-12-320 – Timber, Ownership, Valuations, Roads, Easements). Comments are due Tuesday, Nov. 30 on WAC 458-20-228 - Returns, remittances, penalties, extensions, interest, stay of collection. Contact AWB’s Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

Next Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee Meeting - Rep. McIntire to Discuss Tax Reform
AWB’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee will be meeting Wednesday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m. at Perkins Coie in Seattle. (Perkins Coie is in the Washington Mutual Building at 1201 Third Avenue, 48th floor). Rep. Jim McIntire (D-Seattle) will attend our meeting to address tax reform ideas for 2005 and beyond. We will also discuss the election results. Contact Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

AWB to Participate in Work Session on Offshore Outsourcing
On Wednesday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m., the House Commerce & Labor Committee is holding an interim work session at the Everett Station in Everett. Among the topics is an update on the issue of offshore outsourcing, which AWB has followed since the 2004 legislative session. AWB is in the process of organizing a business-side panel to make a presentation at this work session. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

Remember - Better Workplace Awards Nominations Due Nov. 17!
AWB’s Better Workplace Awards honor members who create family-friendly workplaces, promote safety and enable employees to be their best. You may nominate your business or organization or another AWB member. Deadline: Wednesday, Nov. 17. See www.awb.org/services/awards/bwa/index.asp. Contact AWB’s Amy Johnson at (360) 943-1600 or AmyJ@awb.org.

L&I Rewriting Rules to Improve Clarity – Volunteers Needed!
The Department of Labor and Industries will be rewriting rules on Lead, Ethylene Oxide, Portable Ladders, and Asbestos to improve clarity. L&I is looking for volunteers to serve on the stakeholder committees. Contact AWB's Cody Benson at (360) 943-1600 or CodyB@awb.org.

Capitol Holiday Kids’ Tree – Coming Nov. 23! Still Time to Help With a Donation
The traditional Capitol Holiday Kids’ Tree will arrive Nov. 23 at the Capitol Campus in Olympia and be set in place near historic Tivoli Fountain. The 30-foot tree is being provided to the state by our AWB member Port Blakely Tree Farms of Olympia. The annual official tree lighting is Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. Following the lighting, the public is invited to a reception in the Temple of Justice. All donations will be used to purchase gifts for deserving rural families. Deserving families are identified through a network of volunteer fire fighters who also distribute the gifts. Contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.

2005 Legislative Positions Will Be Adopted at Dec. 8 Board Meeting—Plan to Attend!
AWB’s next Board meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 8, Noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Madison Renaissance in Seattle. At the luncheon ($45 per person), the Better Workplace Award winners will be presented. Register online at www.awb.org/events/DecBoard.asp. Contact Jennifer Davis at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferD@awb.org.

Speaker Chopp to Discuss 2005 Legislative Agenda – Next UI Committee Meeting!
AWB’s Unemployment Insurance Committee will meet Wednesday, Dec. 15, 9 a.m., at a Seattle location to be determined. House Speaker Frank Chopp (D-Seattle) will discuss legislative proposals and issues related to the UI system. An additional update on the 2005 ESD budget proposal will also be presented. Contact Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

Plan Ahead! UW President Mark A. Emmert Will Speak to Executive Committee on March 11!
For 2005 planning, University of Washington president Dr. Mark Emmert will speak to AWB Executive Committee on March 11. Contact Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.

November Washington Business Magazine Out Soon – Plan to Advertise in January Issue Now!
Look for Washington Business Magazine’s November-December issue in your mailbox soon. Its focus will be on the environment. Now is also the time to buy advertising space in Washington Business Magazine’s January-February 2005 issue. Contact Deb Haydon at (425) 379-9417 or DebAQP@awb.net.

AWB Launches 2005 Outreach Schedule in Aberdeen and Wenatchee
AWB President Don Brunell will be in Aberdeen on Wednesday and Wenatchee on Thursday launching this year’s outreach schedule. He will address the Aberdeen Rotary and the Wenatchee Chamber of Commerce. In early December, Brunell will address the Federal Way and Gig Harbor Chambers and the Clark County High Tech Council. For information, contact Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.