The Regional Board meetings and Legislative receptions will be held at Vancouver (Nov. 15), Tri-Cities (Nov. 16) and Spokane (Nov. 17). At the Nov. 16 luncheon, Sen. James Honeyford, R-Grandview, will receive the Matson Award as AWB’s Legislator of the Year. Register now! Contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.

 The difference between AWB and other business organizations is its expertise. AWB General Counsel Kris Tefft developed a guidance document to assist AWB members in implementing the provisions of I-901 - the state’s new smoking ban. View it online at www.awb.org/cgi-bin/absolutenm/templates/?a=1075&z=9. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

 

 When WISHA formerly completed an inspection where no health/safety violations were found, a citation and notice went out certifying that fact. After AWB members talked with WISHA, employers will now receive a letter that states, "We have enclosed the results of our recent safety and health inspection of your workplace.......No safety or health violations were cited at this workplace."

 

 Last week, the performance audit Initiative 900 and smoking ban Initiative 901 won big at the polls. Meanwhile, Initiative 912, which would have repealed the gas tax increase; medical malpractice reform Initiative 330; and the trial lawyers’ I-336 were all defeated

 The Legislature’s UI Task Force will meet Nov. 17, 10 a.m., at House Hearing Rm. A. Nationally renowned expert Dr. Wayne Vroman will present recommendations for improvements to Washington’s UI system. The business community will meet with Dr. Vroman, Nov. 18, at AWB. All members are welcome. Contact AWB’s Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

 

 The U.S. House may vote on the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 this week. If it passes, Congress can move on to much needed tax cuts for small businesses. Please contact your representative, and urge him or her to support the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

 The State Auditor’s Office has launched a survey to gauge citizen sentiment on areas of state government that should be included in a performance review. To add your opinions to the survey, visit www.sao.wa.gov/performanceaudit.

 

 AWB will meet with DOE Director Jay Manning this week regardingthe department's PBT rule andchemical action plan on PBDE flame retardants. The ruleand action plantargets specificchemicals and identifies additional regulatory actions impacting business.Contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

 Former gubernatorial candidate and state legislator Dino Rossi will appear on this week’s Washington Business Weekly to discuss his new autobiographical book, Lessons in Leadership, Politics and Life. The program airs 11 a.m.-12 noon, Thursday, on Tacoma’s KLAY 1180 AM. You may also listen at http://www.awb.org/.

The November-December issue of Washington Business is off the presses, and it’s a great one. Agriculture and its importance to the state is the main theme. You should receive it in the mail soon.

 

 

2005 Statewide Small Business Conferences –This Thursday, Nov. 17th
Washington Policy Center with AWB will sponsorthe 2005 Statewide Business Conference thisThursday at SeaTac (Nov. 17) featuring a lunch address from Governor Gregoire. She will be taking questions from business owners on our state's business climate. Register at www.washingtonpolicy.org/SmallBusiness.html or call (888) 972-9272. Thisis your chance to help develop recommendations on the top issues affecting your business!

 

The Governor’s Global Competitiveness Council will be meeting on Nov. 16. AWB is very involved in the Council. Please continue to send us your helpful input on competitiveness issues. Contact AWB’s Don Brunell at (360) 943-1600 or DonB@awb.org.

 

AWB will be sponsoring the state’s Holiday Kids’ Tree at the State Capitol in Olympia. To date, we’ve collected over $14,000 toward our goal of $15,000. The money pays for the tree decorations and provides funds to purchase Christmas presents for needy families. Send your contribution to the AWB Capitol Holiday Kids’ Tree. Contact Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.

 

AWB’s Better Workplace Awards honor companies with exemplary records in workplace safety, job training and advancement programs, and innovative benefit/compensation programs. Submit nominations by Jan. 6 to www.awb.org/services/awards/bwa/index.asp.

 

After our Bellevue legislative recognition lunch last week, Rep. Toby Nixon, R-Kirkland, wrote in a letter: “I want you to know that I very much appreciate the award presented to me by AWB in recognition of my voting record. From a purely aesthetic perspective, it is one of the most beautiful awards I’ve ever received, and I will proudly and prominently display it in my office in Olympia. But more importantly, I appreciate the fact that AWB recognizes and values the contributions that legislators make. Legislative service involves many hours of hard work for little compensation. I also appreciate AWB identifying the legislators who consistently support the same principles as AWB and encouraging your members to offer strong support to those legislators!” Amen, Toby.

 

Oil exploration in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is hanging in the balance. The U.S. House of Representatives, with the help of 28 Republicans including Washington’s Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, and most Democrats, removed language allowing ANWR drilling from the bill it approved last week. The House and Senate, which approved a version of the bill allowing ANWR exploration, will now reconcile the two versions of the legislation. Go to http://www.awb.org/, and tell your senators and representatives that you support ANWR oil exploration!

 

ANWR is the single most misunderstood issue in the universe - bar none! AWB President Don Brunell has been there (several times), and has seen how carefully the industry operates and can tell you that most people don’t keep their garage floors that free of oil—even the compulsive cleaners. It is not like the “gusher days” oil fields in Oklahoma. The technology is much different and environmentally friendly. For example, Alpine, which is only available by helicopter and ice road, is located 40 miles west of Kuparuk on Alaska’s North Slope. Alpine is the largest onshore oil field discovered in North America in the past decade. Directional drilling, zero-waste discharge, road less development and other innovations minimize Alpine development’s environmental footprint on the Arctic. The total wellhead foot print is 97 acres or about 0.2 percent of the 40,000-acre oil field. That same technology can be used in ANWR.

 

From the Economist: “Over the past decade, the British and American economies have generated impressive growth and plenty of new jobs; the French economy has failed on both counts. Why? The main answer is that French labour is throttled by restrictions such as the 35-hour week, a high minimum wage, and tough hiring and firing rules….Rather than tackle the fundamental causes of France’s high unemployment, [French President] Chirac has recently taken to railing against the evils of Anglo-Saxon markets and liberalism (which he has termed communism).” We cannot sit back and say: This is America and Washington state, it couldn’t happen here!

 

Jobs and Opportunities Are Casualties of Battle Against Home Depot - See This Week’s President’s Perspective at www.awb.org.