Bill to Roll Back 2003 UI Reforms Passes in House – Will Be Heard in Senate Tomorrow—Oppose It!
The much needed 2003 reforms to Washington’s unemployment insurance system are in danger. SHB 2255, a measure that would roll back the key UI reforms, was passed last week by the House, 56 to 41. All the Democrats except for Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham, voted for this bill. Conversely, all the Republicans except for Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy, and Rep. Shirley Hankins, R-Richland, opposed this measure. AWB opposes it! Now the bill is in the Senate, it will be heard tomorrow at 8 a.m. Please show up and help AWB oppose this bill. You may also help by going to www.awb.org to tell your senator to pigeon-hole SHB 2255 and allow the new UI reforms to work. For information, see www.awb.org/cgi-bin/absolutenm/templates/?a=946&z=2. Contact AWB’s Mellani Hughes McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org. Go to www.awb.org  and e-mail your legislators. Tell them “NO!” on SHB 2255.

Senate Passes Budget – $482 Million in New Taxes Approved!
Last week the Washington State Senate passed its 2005-2007 budget in a floor vote. This budget - $279 million higher than Gov. Gregoire’s budget - is bad news for our state’s fragile economy. Instead of reducing spending, the Senate’s budget raises $482 million in new taxes in order to finance two education initiatives and more college enrollment. College tuition would be increased up to 7 percent a year, liquor and cigarette taxes would spike upward, and the death tax would be revived in an even more punitive form than proposed by Gov. Gregoire. For a good insight, go to Washington Research Council: http://researchcouncil.blogs.com/weblog/files/pb_0506_final.pdf. Contact AWB’s Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

Reference Check Bill Passed to Senate Rules Committee – Tell Senators to Allow Floor Vote!
HB 1625, an excellent bill that would make it easier for employers, is now in the Senate Rules Committee. Hopefully, it is on its way to the Senate floor for a vote on final passage. Go to www.awb.org and tell your senator to support this bill. AWB worked for years to pass this legislation. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

House Budget Expected This Week – AWB Hopes it Will Show Fiscal Restraint!
In the wake of budgets by Gov. Gregoire and the Senate, the House will release its 2005-2007 budget later this week. A committee hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. AWB hopes the House will show more fiscal restraint than the Senate or the Governor and avoid new taxes, including sin taxes, estate taxes, and fund transfers. We will provide the details as soon as we get them and ask the Washington Research Council for its analysis.

Haugen and Swecker Talk Transportation at Last Week’s Lobby Lunch!
Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, and Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester, ranking minority member of the same committee, discussed a wide variety of transportation issues at last week’s Lobby Lunch. Haugen stated, “The best thing the government can do for business is building infrastructure. We have no business telling businesses how to run their companies; we should only provide a foundation for businesses to grow on.” Swecker added he hopes the plan “changes the way we do transportation projects in the future. The biggest mistake in transportation is time delayed projects. The longer it takes to finance a project, the more that project will cost. We need to work on both the funding side and the project side to make things more efficient.”

Hear Lt. Gov. Brad Owens – At This Week’s Lobby Lunch!
Lt. Gov. Brad Owens will share his observations on the current legislative session at this week’s Lobby Lunch, Thursday, 12 noon. Don’t miss it! Contact AWB’s Alisha Boggs at (360) 943-1600 or AlishaB@awb.org.

Biotech Conference – In Seattle, This Thursday!
AWB is co-sponsoring a Biotech Conference on Thursday, April 7, at the Red Lion in Downtown Seattle. It is free. If you are interested in attending, please call (206) 963-3409. The conference is designed to promote economic development of the biotech industry in Washington.

AWB Makes it Easy for Your Voice to Be Heard – Contact Your Legislators at www.awb.org!
If the current legislative session has proven anything, it is that business can’t just sit back and allow lawmakers to pass anti-business measures without a word of protest. To make it easy for business to have a strong voice in Olympia, AWB.org has just launched a new feature making it easier to find and contact your state senators and representatives. A "Send Message" feature has been added to the profiles of each and every member of the Washington State House and Senate. Just fill in your information and send your comments directly over the Web. You can even send yourself a copy of your message for your records. Access this feature by going to www.awb.org and search for your representative under "Find Your Legislator." For an advanced search, go to www.awb.org/members/electionguide/search.asp. For more information, contact AWB's Lex Nepomuceno at AlexisN@awb.org.

Gov. Engler to Speak at Spring Board Meeting – Register Early!
Former Michigan Governor John Engler, the new president of the National Association of Manufacturers, will be our keynote speaker on May 24 at the AWB Annual Spring Board meeting in Spokane. We will meet at the Davenport. Mark your calendars and make your reservations. Contact AWB’s Amy Johnson at (360) 943-1600 or AmyJ@awb.org.

Do You Know Someone Who Should Be on AWB’s Board? Nominations are Being Taken!
AWB’s Annual Spring Board meeting is coming soon. At the meeting we will be choosing new members of AWB’s Board. If you know of an AWB member you think should be on our board, please send us that person’s name in nomination form. Deadline: May 24. Contact AWB’s Dick Walter at (360) 943-1600 or DickW@awb.org.

Have Your Company’s Contribution to Community Service Recognized!
AWB is presenting a series of Community Service Awards to recognize our members’ volunteerism and contributions, which make our communities better places in which to live and work. The Community Service Awards will be presented during a special dinner held in conjunction with the May 24 AWB Annual Spring Meeting in Spokane. Submit your applications before Friday, April 22 at www.awb.org/services/awards/csaawards.asp.

Showcase Your Company – Become a Northwest Environmental Summit Sponsor Today!
Get your company the recognition it deserves by becoming a sponsor for the 2005 Environmental Conference, Oct. 19 and 20 at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. Call AWB’s Jennifer Davis at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferD@awb.org.

Labor Law Posters Available – Order Now!
Agencies of both the state and federal governments require various postings be available in a common area regularly visited by employees where they have an unobstructed opportunity to read them. Recently, legislation amended the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) requiring employers to post a new notice providing information about the rights of military service personnel to job reinstatement and other benefits. As of March 10, 2005, posting this information is mandatory. Contact AWB’s Amy Johnson at (360) 943-1600 or AmyJ@awb.org to order your labor law poster. In the meantime, before you order and receive your AWB labor law poster, you may download, print and post a temporary USERRA-compliant poster from the U.S. Dept. of Labor at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/poster.pdf.

AWB’s HealthChoice – A Great Health Care Alternative!
Looking for affordable, quality health insurance for you and your employees? If so, AWB HealthChoice could be the right choice. Plans offered have deductibles ranging from $250 - $1000 and three Health Savings Account (HSA) options are also available. Companies with a minimum of two employees qualify for coverage. For benefit information, contact Helen Siggins at (866) 448-9577.

Check Out www.JobMakers.com- Track Your Legislators on How They’re Doing to Keep Our Economic Recovery Moving!
AWB’s JobMaker’s Web site is up and running. Other states are adopting it as a prototype. JobMakers is a cooperative partnership between AWB and the Washington Roundtable. Check it out and see how your legislators are doing! Then e-mail them by connecting to our Web site www.awb.org. Listen for two new radio ads, produced by AWB and WashACE, that mention JobMakers.com.