Get Informed Before You Vote – Check AWB’s Endorsements on Statewide Candidates & Initiatives!
Please remember the business-friendly candidates and ballot measures endorsed by AWB. The statewide candidates we have endorsed are Dino Rossi (Governor), Brad Owen (Lieutenant Governor), Rob McKenna (Attorney General), Sam Reed (Attorney General), Mike Kreidler (Insurance Commissioner), Doug Sutherland (Commissioner of Public Lands) and Terry Bergeson (Superintendent of Public Instruction). For the Washington State Supreme Court, AWB is supporting Jim Johnson, Barbara Madsen and Richard Sanders. The state initiatives AWB is supporting are Initiative 872 (top two primary) and Initiative 892 (gambling/property tax reduction). For more information on these candidates and initiatives endorsed by AWB, please visit www.awb.org/elections/endorsements.asp.

Check AWB Endorsement of Candidates for the Legislature - Go to www.awb.org! 
Many AWB members took the time to interview legislative candidates across our state and to make recommendations to the Board for endorsements. Those candidates now need your support at the polls tomorrow. Help elect those candidates. Log on to www.awb.org/elections/endorsements.asp for the list.

Rossi Climbing Up in Polls – McKenna Takes Lead in AG Race!
According to a KING-5 poll, Dino Rossi (47 percent) has climbed up to within two points of Christine Gregoire (49 percent) in the gubernatorial race. Gregoire formerly had a formidable lead. Meanwhile, in the attorney general’s race, Rob McKenna is leading Deborah Senn, 47 to 44 percent.

AWB Believes Gov. Locke Wrong About Dino Rossi—Both Candidates Qualified for Governor
Gov. Locke is wrong to claim that Republican candidate Dino Rossi is "neither qualified nor prepared to be governor." AWB interviewed both candidates for governor and conducted the first debate between Christine Gregiore and Dino Rossi. “If either of these candidates was not qualified nor prepared to be governor, we would have not have interviewed them nor asked them to debate,” AWB President Don Brunell added. “The governor’s comments are most unfortunate.” In the end, the AWB Board voted to endorse Rossi.

Latest Polls - President Bush and John Kerry in “Dead Heat!” Vote Turnout Will Determine Winner!
The latest New York Times/CBS poll released this morning shows President Bush has 49-46 percent lead over Kerry. Meanwhile, Zogby-Reuters gives the President a 48-47 percent margin with one percent for Ralph Nader. In battleground states of Florida, Ohio, New Mexico, Hawaii, Nevada, Colorado and Missouri, most polls show the President with an advantage. Senator Kerry has the slight advantage in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Maine. It is a tossup in Wisconsin and Iowa. Make sure you turnout and vote. YOUR VOTE WILL COUNT!

Remember the 2000 Election—Less Than a Thousand Votes Determined the Presidency
In case you’ve forgotten the 2000 election, remember that fewer than 1,000 votes in Florida determined that George W. Bush, not Al Gore, was elected President. Think your vote doesn’t matter in Washington? Check Don Brunell’s column on election turnout at www.awb.org/cgi-bin/absolutenm/templates/?a=717&z=3.

Track Election Results Online!
Starting at 4 p.m. Pacific time tomorrow, Nov. 2, you can track the results of the election by going to the Washington Prosperity Project Web site: www.bipac.net/washington. This site will provide rolling totals for the races following the closing of the polls in each state and will project winners based on consensus predictions. Races will not be called prematurely. For more information, contact AWB’s Alexis Nepomuceno at AlexisN@awb.org.

Update on Cockle Decision Challenge - Supreme Court Accepts AWB’s Brief in Gallo Case!
The Washington State Supreme Court has accepted AWB’s friend-of-the-court brief in the Gallo case. This case is a challenge against the Cockle decision, which has cost Washington’s employers millions of dollars in workers’ comp payments. AWB General Counsel Kris Tefft has been allocated five minutes to present the employers’ case to the court in November. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

AWB to Testify at Spokane Hearing – Will Tell L&I “No Rate Increases!”
L&I will be holding a series of hearings on workers’ comp rate increases. The schedule is: Wednesday, Nov. 3 (Western Ridpath Hotel, Spokane); Thursday, Nov. 4 (Red Lion Hotel, Yakima); Friday, Nov. 5 (Best Western Cottontree Inn, Mount Vernon); Monday, Nov. 8 (L&I Auditorium, Tumwater); Tuesday, Nov. 10 (King Oscar Convention Center, Tacoma); and Wednesday, Nov. 12 (Red Lion at the Quay, Vancouver). Written comments on the proposed rate increase must be received by L&I by noon, Monday, Nov. 15. All hearings start at 3 p.m. AWB will be there to argue for workers’ comp reform not rate increases. Send comments to Kathy Kimbel, Employer Services program manager, P.O. Box 44140, Tumwater, WA 98504-4140 or via e-mail to lanz235@lni.wa.gov. Contact AWB’s Cody Benson at (360) 943-1600 or CodyB@awb.org, or AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

Focus on Unemployment Insurance – Budget and 2005 Legislative Issues to Be Discussed!
Two meetings have been scheduled for AWB’s Unemployment Insurance Committee. The first will be held, Friday, Nov. 5, 1– 3 p.m. at Weyerhaeuser in Federal Way. ESD unemployment insurance budget issues for the 2005 session and any necessary 2005 unemployment insurance legislative objective prior to AWB's December board meeting will be discussed. The second meeting will be held 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 AWB’s Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

Department of Revenue Rule Hearings – Coming Next Week!
A public hearing on Department of Revenue rules has been scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 1:30 p.m. at the Capitol Plaza Building in Olympia. The rules to be discussed are WAC 458-20-196 (credit losses, bad debts, recoveries) and WAC 458-20-198 (conditional and installment sales, method of reporting). Contact Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

The Time for Charter Schools is Now - Approve R-55 on Nov. 2!
Washington public schools are not working for all children - too many are falling through the cracks. Thirty percent of Washington students drop out of high school and more than 50 percent of all African-American, Latino and Native American children drop out. We can and must do better! Referendum 55 will approve charter schools – an innovative and flexible form of education – in Washington. Isn’t it about time our children had this educational option? Visit www.approveR55.org for more information.

Draft Comments on PBDE Flame Retardant Chemical Action Plan – Due Nov. 11!
AWB members still have time to comment on the Dept. of Ecology’s Chemical Action Plan (CAP) for PBDE flame retardants. The draft CAP recommends banning electronic products and upholsteries with PBDEs. Comments are due Thursday, Nov. 11. Contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee to Meet in Seattle – Rep. McIntire Will Be There!
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) is scheduled to attend our meeting to address tax reform ideas for 2005 and beyond. At this meeting we will also discuss the election results. Contact Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

Underground Injection Control Draft Rule Workshops
The Dept. of Ecology is in the process of revising the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program rules. These rules include information on how UIC wells are used and what type of fluids can be discharged into them. Ecology is scheduling workshops to discuss the draft rules in November. Copies of the draft rule and fact sheets and the Q&A are available at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/grndwtr/uic/index.html. Contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Healthy Worksite Summit Coming This Week – Last Chance to Register!
This week you have an opportunity to learn about building a worksite wellness program, and the impact policy and environmental changes can have on your employees' health and productivity will be discussed at the annual Healthy Worksite Summit (Thursday, Nov. 4, SeaTac Hilton) sponsored by AWB and Evergreen Everwell. To register online, go to www.awcnet.org/wellness.

Better Workplace Awards – Nominations Due by Nov. 17!
AWB’s Better Workplace Awards are for 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. The deadline is Nov. 17. See www.awb.org/services/awards/bwa/index.asp.  Contact AWB’s Amy Johnson at (360) 943-1600 or AmyJ@awb.org.