AWB has told the Legislature, in no uncertain terms, that it opposes HB 1672, which would bring back the old ergonomics rules, which was previously rejected by Washington’s voters. While it is only for nurses—at least for now—it is the camel’s nose under the tent. Let the employers and nurses develop their own innovative solutions to ergonomic problems. This is a bad idea! Link to http://www.awb.org/ and tell them No! No! and No again! Urge your legislators to oppose HB 1672. Contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

 

 Last week the U.S. Senate approved the Class Action Fairness Act (S. 5), the most important lawsuit abuse reform in a decade, on a 72-26 vote. Washington’s Maria Cantwell voted for the bill, but Patty Murray voted against it. The bill directs many large class-action lawsuits out of state courts and into the federal system, and reins in the multimillion-dollar payments that lawyers receive in such cases. “We hope S.5 will pave the way for other needed lawsuit reform measures,” AWB President Don Brunell said. Brunell and former Gov. Booth Gardner led the class action coalition in our state. Next stop for the Class Action Fairness Bill is the U.S. House of Representatives where it is expected to pass easily. President Bush, who has made tort reform a top priority of his administration, will sign the bill. This is a major victory for the business community. Thank Sen. Cantwell for her support. Contact AWB’s Don Brunell at (360) 943-1600 or DonB@awb.org.

 

The so-called Health Care Responsibility Act (HB 1702 and SB 5637) is an expensive disaster-in-the-making for employers. Under this measure, employers will be forced to either provide employee health care or pay a tax to enroll employees in the state’s Basic Health Care Plan. AWB will testify in opposition to this costly and ineffective mandate.Contact committee members and tell them not to let this bill out of Senate and House Health Care committees. The bills will be heard Thursday in the House Health Care Committee at 8 a.m. and at 3:30 p.m. in the Senate. If possible, come to these hearings and let the legislators know you oppose this legislation. Contact AWB’s Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or Mellani@awb.org.

 In a letter to President Bush and Congress, AWB President said the Administration’s budget proposal which causes the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to raise its rates 20 percent a year for the next three years would be a catastrophic disaster for Washington. Brunell said that Washington is already the 8^th most expensive place to do business among the 50 states and the only thing keeping it from going higher is the costs of electricity. “Even at that, industrial electric rates have shot up over the last five years and they are the 23^rd highest in the country.” For more information, contact Don Brunell at (360) 943-1600 or DonB@awb.org.

 

Good news for business: HB 1276, which would require the governor’s signature on major agency rules, has passed the House. This is a real step towards governmental accountability. Kudos to Rep. Bill Grant, D-Walla Walla, for introducing this important bill, and kudos to the many Democrats and Republicans who joined him as co-sponsors. Urge your senator to support this bill now that it will be sent to the Senate. Contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

 

Gov. Christine Gregoire was featured speaker at last week’s AWB Legislative Reception luncheon in Olympia. Gregoire called for cooperation on statewide issues including economic development, education, rising health care costs and government accountability. "I know that can only be done with one thing, and that's a partnership," Gregoire said. The governor offered no specifics on how she would contain health care costs, but did say she wanted to increase the number of trade missions, develop a regional economic strategy with Oregon, and increase the salaries of state employees while demanding greater accountability.

 

Last week, at AWB’s Board Meeting, House Commerce & Labor Committee chair Rep. Steven Conway, D-Tacoma, expressed his intent to present a workers’ comp reform package this year. “I see us moving on many issues that have been stalemated in the House and Senate for the last four or five years,” Conway said. Wage simplification is among the issues Conway is hoping to tackle this year.

 

 SB 5430 would allow the diversion of workers’ comp accident funds for non-workers’ comp purposes. This is another bad idea! The bill will have a legislative committee hearing, 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 15. Come to the hearing and help AWB protect the integrity of the workers’ comp funds. E-mail your legislators and tell them “No Way!” Contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

 

In 1994 the Legislature enacted tax incentives to encourage additional research and development (R&D) investment in the high technology sector. Legislation passed in 2004 extended the sunset date of the R&D tax incentive laws to 2015. Unfortunately, R&D tax incentives were also reduced for many Washington employers in amounts up to and in some cases exceeding 70 percent. AWB, in testimony last week, urged lawmakers to eliminate the cut in R&D tax incentives for Washington’s employers and return the incentive calculation to the 1.5 percent rate originally approved by the Legislature in order to attract and preserve jobs for Washington’s citizens.

 

Go to http://www.awb.org/ and link to your legislator. Contact AWB’s Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org

 

After many years of working on this issue, a bill to make reference checks easier for employers has gained real traction. This JobMaker (HB 1625) passed out of the House last week on a 92-6 vote, with overwhelming bipartisan support. Members in the 41^st Legislative District should thank Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, the measure’s prime sponsor, for shepherding the bill through. The bill is now heading to the Senate where it is expected to pass, although Senators must be told of AWB’s strong support. Go to http://www.awb.org/ and tell your Senators to support HB 1625. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

 

At last week’s Lobby Lunch, Senate Ways & Means chair Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, and House Appropriations chair Rep. Helen Sommers, D-Seattle, stressed the importance of the budget and the economy during this legislative session. Prentice insisted that she doesn’t want to do anything to diminish job growth and wants to work with business to find solutions to the budget crisis. Sommers expressed grave concerns about the Washington Supreme Court’s recent ruling that revoked the death tax and made the state’s budget gap even bigger.

 

The Legislature is considering employer-paid family leave insurance programs (HB 1173, SB 5069) that will create a new worker entitlement at the expense of yet another new tax and administrative burden on employers. AWB is working hard to oppose these poorly conceived bills, but we need your help, too. Be sure to contact your legislators and urge them to say “No” to HB 1173 and SB 5069. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

 

Washington state’s retro program is working well, but that’s not good enough for the Legislature’s majority. HB 1857 is poorly conceived and unneeded. The bill affects associations like AWB by limiting retro enrollment. AWB is fighting hard against this bill. Help us by urging your legislators to oppose HB 1857. Contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

 

 HB 1673 and HB 1445, both of which will provide Washington employers with welcome regulatory relief will be heard in committee this week. AWB will be there to argue strongly in favor of these bills. Contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

 

Rep. Jim McIntire, D-Seattle, chair of the House Finance Committee will be the featured speaker at the next Lobby Lunch on Thursday, Feb. 17. Contact AWB’s Alisha Boggs at (360) 943-1600 or AlishaB@awb.org.

 

 The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is sponsoring a series of public meetings across the state to help people learn about its efforts to update Washington's plan to control polluted runoff. The public will have the opportunity to hear more about the draft plan and offer comments on the actions and strategies. The meetings are scheduled for March 8, 6:30 p.m. (Ecology Headquarters Auditorium, 300 Desmond Dr, Lacey), March 9, 6:30 p.m. (Commissioners Hearing Room, Spokane County Courthouse, 1116 W. Broadway Ave, Spokane), March 10, 6:30 p.m. (Hal Holmes Community Center, 201 N. Ruby St, Ellensburg), and March 16, 6:30 p.m. (Conference Rooms A,B,C, Parks Bldg, Everett Community College, 2000 Tower St, Everett). Public comment on the plan will end March 18. Mail comments to Bill Hashim, Dept. of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600. Comments can also be e-mailed to bhas461@ecy.wa.gov or faxed to (360) 407-6426. To review the plan on the Web and get more information, go to file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK13/2005.02.07/www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/nonpoint/nps_plan.html. Contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

 

AWB’s Executive Committee will meet Friday, March 11, 12 noon-4:30 p.m. in Olympia. You are invited to attend the Executive Luncheon (12 noon-1:30 p.m.). Dr. Mark Emmert, president of the University of Washington will be the luncheon speaker. Executive Meeting, 1:30-4:30 p.m. For more information, please contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.

 

 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 this time.Mark your calendars and make your reservations. For more information, please contact Amy Johnson at AmyJ@awb.org.

 

Check Out http://www.jobmakers.com/ - Track Your Legislators on How They Are 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 website http://www.awb.org/.