Finkbeiner Steps Down as Minority Leader – Senate GOP Caucus to Choose Replacement This Week

Sen. Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, has stepped down as Senate minority leader. His Senate GOP caucus plans to choose a successor this week. Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, has announced he will seek Finkbeiner’s leadership post.

Employers Win UI Case – Court Upholds Disqualification from Benefits for Voluntary Quit

In Starr v. Employment Security Department, the Court of Appeals rejected the argument that a voluntary quit for “compelling personal reasons” should qualify a claimant for benefits.This is a win because the court refused to expand the list of good cause quits as designated in the 2003 UI reforms. Contact AWB’s Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

L&I Seeks to Exclude Artificial Spinal Discs from Covered Medical Treatment

L&I will seek emergency rulemaking to exclude artificial spinal discs from covered medical treatment in response to a Court of Appeals decision, Roller v. Dept. of Labor & Industries, which holds that if regulations do not specifically exclude coverage of a medically necessary treatment, then the treatment is covered. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

AWB Files Brief in Tax Case

On Friday afternoon, AWB filed a friend of the court brief before the Washington Supreme Court urging the court to accept review of an appeal brought by AWB member US Tobacco Company in a case against the state Department of Revenue.At issue is the proper burden of proof for taxpayers to prove the valuation of products in an action for a refund of taxes.AWB’s Tax Council and Legal Affairs Committee thought a favorable outcome could affect AWB members in many industries. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

Urban and Disadvantaged Students Well Served by Charter Schools – Get the Facts!

The UW’s Evans School of Public Affairs has released a study showing America’s charter schools serve a larger percentage of minority and low-income students than do the nation’s traditional public school. Read it at www.crpe.org/ncsrp.

L&I Workers’ Comp Advisory Committee Meets – Rates and Reserves Hot Topic

Earlier this morning, the Dept. of Labor & Industries held its quarterly meeting of the Workers’ Comp Advisory Committee. AWB’s Kris Tefft is a member of the committee. Among the hot topics under discussion between business, labor, and L&I were the recent premium announcement and the issue of setting L&I’s contingency reserves.L&I expects to review its reserving practices through rulemaking in early 2006. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

Hale to Meet with Executive Committee on Training and Economic Development Issues

Earl Hale, executive director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, will join AWB’s Executive Committee on Dec. 13 for a roundtable discussion on education, workforce and economic development issues. The roundtable will be at noon. Interested in attending? Contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.

Ecology Developing Response to Comments and Final PBT Rule

The Dept. of Ecology is reviewing comments from stakeholders and interested parties, including AWB, on its proposed persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBT) rule. DOE will issue its response to comments and the final rule by Dec 31. The rule adopts specific PBT criteria and lists those specific chemicals meeting the criteria, defines how chemicals will be selected for chemical action plans, and how those plans will be developed. Contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Dept. of Ecology Releases Final Draft PBDE CAP

DOE’s final draft chemical action plan for PBDE flame retardants is available for public comments. Comments are due Dec. 30. Ecologyrecommends in the planthat the Legislature ban the manufacture and distribution of products containing Penta and Octa and ban products containing Deca, provided safer alternatives are available.Contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

L&I Reorganizes WISHA Staff

L&I is reorganizing WISHA’s workplace safety staff at Central Office and in the field into one organization Jan. 1. L&I hopes the reorganization will improve accountability and streamline services. Contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Land Use Committee – Meeting Dec. 9

AWB’s Land Use Committee will meet Dec. 9, 10 a.m.-12:00 noon, to discuss DOE’s CR-101 proposal to amend the WACs relating to the Shoreline Management Act (SMA). DOE is amending rules describing jurisdiction of the SMA to accommodate refined mapping to be included in local jurisdictions’ Shoreline Master Programs, and modifying sections of SMA rules in conflict with decisions from the Shoreline Hearings Board and state courts. Contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

Gregoire and MacDonald at Legislative Luncheon & Reception – Feb. 8 at Olympia’s Red Lion Inn

Gov. Gregoire will speak at the Legislative Luncheon, and Secretary of Transportation Doug MacDonald will speak at AWB’s board meeting. Contact AWB’s Alisha Boggs at (360) 943-1600 or AlishaB@awb.org.

New Research Council Policy Brief - "Buildable Lands Process Flawed"

The buildable lands process was intended to provide data to city and county governments as they update the comprehensive plans they use to manage growth. The process used for the first round of buildable lands reviews has proven to be far from sufficient. Learn more about this problem at http://researchcouncil.blogs.com/weblog/files/buildable_lands_final.pdf.

Byus and Fagan to Represent Business Community on Prescription Drug Purchasing Consortium

AWB members Dean Byus, of Employee Benefit Services, and Susan Fagan, of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, will represent the business community on the Prescription Drug Purchasing Consortium created by SSB 5471 in 2005. The bill directs the Health Care Authority (HCA) to make prescription drugs more affordable to Washington residents by pooling the purchasing power of the state. AWB raised a number of concerns about the bill last year and is pleased that our members will have input on advising the HCA on implementation of the consortium. We thank them for their willingness to volunteer their time.

ANWR Vote May Be This Week

This week the U.S. House will vote on whether or not to permit oil extraction in a tiny part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)—less than one percent.Go to http://www.awb.org/ and tell your representative to support environmentally safe exploration.

AWB Holiday Kids Tree Lighted…Come See the State’s Holiday Tree at Capitol Rotunda in Olympia

Full Meal Deal Coming AWB - Contact Debra Brown for Details on Yearly Sponsor and Attendance Plan

Your bookkeeper will love this one. AWB is offering an annual event sponsorship and attendance plan. Many of you have asked if they could send us one check at the beginning of each calendar year to cover their sponsorship and attendance at AWB events. The answer is “YES!” Contact AWB’s Debra Brown at (360) 943-1600 or DebraB@awb.org.

Know Your Responsibilities in Dealing with the Smoking Initiative

AWB has a document briefing you on what you need to do to comply with Initiative 901, the smoking ban, which takes effect on Dec. 8. See it at www.awb.org/cgi-bin/absolutenm/templates/?a=1075&z=9. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

Construction Stormwater General Permit Final - More Expensive to Comply

The Dept. of Ecology has adopted its final Construction Stormwater General Permit (CSGP) effective Dec. 16. The permit contains a number of more restrictive and expensive requirements for inspections, sampling and monitoring in comparison tothe previous version. Any appeal of the permit must be filed by Dec. 16. Contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Secretary of Transportation MacDonald to Appear on Next Washington Business Weekly

Washington’s Secretary of Transportation Doug MacDonald will discuss how and where the state will spend the recently approved gas tax. The program airs 11 a.m.-12 noon, Thursday, on Tacoma’s KLAY 1180 AM. You may also listen at http://www.awb.org/.

Have an Item for Washington Business Magazine’s People on the Move? Send it to Shawn Sullivan at ShawnS@awb.org

Health Care Committee Meeting on Dec. 19 – Mark Your Calendars!

AWB’s Health Care Committee will be meeting at AWB, 10 a.m., Dec. 19. Details on the agenda will be announced shortly. Contact Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

AWB Collects a Record for Rural Needy Families - Thank You! It will be a Joyous Christmas for Many

Thanks to generosity of many, many AWB members and friends, lots of needy families in rural Western Washington will have gifts and food for Christmas. Since AWB teamed with the Capitol Campus Volunteers 16 years ago, we’ve collected $200,000 to allocate to rural volunteer fire departments who buy gifts and food for families. This year, it looks like we are headed for a record. To date, we have $16,000 in donations and the money continues to flow in. Thank you!

Better Workplace Awards – Send Nominations by Jan. 6

AWB’s Better Workplace Awards honor companies that provide great work environments. Submit nominations by Jan. 6 to www.awb.org/services/awards/bwa/index.asp. Contact AWB’s Alisha Boggs at (360) 943-1600 or AlishaB@awb.org.

Make Sure You’re in Compliance for 2006 - Pre-order your Labor Law Posters Today

2006 is right around the corner. Get the most up-to-date labor postings as required by law. To pre-order, contact Alisha Boggs at (360) 943-1600 or AlishaB@awb.org.

Paying by the Mile May Be Coming - See This Week’s President’s Perspective at www.awb.org.

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