VOTE Tomorrow: Don’t Forget Your Photo ID
Tomorrow is primary election day. Don’t forget to bring your photo ID to the polling location.

Sen. Honeyford Wins AWB's 2005 Matson Award – More Awards to be Presented at the Policy Summit
Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, has won AWB’s prestigious 2005 Matson Award honoring the state legislator who consistently supported issues important to Washington’s employers and the state’s competitiveness. The Matson Award is the highest award a legislator can achieve at the AWB, and it will be presented to Sen. Honeyford at the Regional Board meeting in the Tri-Cities on November 16. Contact AWB’s Don Brunell at (360) 943-1600 or DonB@awb.org.

IRS Hikes Mileage Reimbursement Rate Temporarily
With the recent increase in the price of gas, the IRS mileage reimbursement rate was temporarily increased from $.405 to $.485 per mile. The new rate is effective from September 1 until the end of the year.

Hudson Appointed to U.S. Chamber of Commerce Education Committee
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce appointed Mike Hudson, executive director of the Institute for Workforce Development & Economic Sustainability, to its Education, Employment and Training Committee (EETC). The EETC directs the chamber’s policy relating to issues affecting education and workforce development policy. Contact AWB’s Mike Hudson at (360) 943-1600 or MikeH@awb.org.

L&I Schedules Public Hearings On Proposed Rate Increase for 2006 L&I — AWB Wants Agency to Wait for Audit Results!
Public hearings have now been scheduled on L&I’s proposed 3.8% average rate increase for workers’ compensation. AWB members can provide comments directly to L&I at any of the six locations around the state. All of the hearings begin at 10:00 AM. Dates include October 11 at the Airport Ramada Inn, Spokane; October 13 at the Red Lion Hotel, Yakima; October 18, 2401 Riverside Drive, Mt. Vernon; October 20 at the Red Lion at the Quay, Vancouver; October 24 at L&I's office in Tukwila; and October 25 at L&I's headquarters in Tumwater. An industry specific break down is available at http://www.lni.wa.gov/ClaimsIns/Insurance/RatesRisk/Check/RatesHistory/default.asp.  Key points to make when attending a public hearing include: (1) We have already have had three years of consecutive rate increases, (2) The State Fund is very good financial condition with more than $1.1 billion in surplus reserves, and (3) Any confidence in the ratemaking process is lost and can be restored through a much needed financial audit that has been started by the State Auditor. AWB will be asking L&I to not make a rate adjustment this year and instead wait for the critical independent financial audit before proposing another rate increase. For more information, contact AWB's Amber Carter at AmberC@awb.org.

AWB Looks for Members to Serve on Health Care Authority Advisory Committee - Deadline is September 21!
The 2005 Legislature passed SSB 5471, creating the Prescription Drug Purchasing Consortium, which establishes a state-run "pharmacy" that will pool the purchasing power of the state and sell prescription drugs directly to Washington citizens beginning in January 2006. The legislation calls for the creation of an 11 member advisory committee to counsel the Health Care Authority on implementation of the consortium. AWB has been asked to nominate candidates from the business community - one representing large businesses and one representing small. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Mellani McAleenan at MellaniM@awb.org no later than Wednesday, September 21.

U.S. Dept. of Commerce Requesting Input on E-Commerce Issues – AWB Members Encouraged to Participate!
A representative from the Office of Technology and E-Commerce (OTEC) in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration will conduct a field assignment that will take place in Seattle, Washington, September 20-21. The main purpose of this field assignment is to meet with companies and trade associations to learn about their issues and concerns in the areas of e-commerce related policy and the underlying technologies. Some of the goals for the field assignment are: 1) to identify domestic and international e-commerce related policies that affect the competitiveness of U.S. industry, 2) to identify and gather information on industry trends in e-commerce, and 3) to develop relationships with the private sector among other purposes. For more information, please contact U.S. Department of Commerce’s Shannon Ballard at (202) 482-3709 or shannon.ballard@mail.doc.gov.

NEW WashACE Study on Health Care to be Unveiled at Policy Summit
As part of the Policy Summit, the Washington Research Council has just completed its new study on controlling the costs of health care. Later this week, you can go online and download it. It is titled: The Prescription for Health Care: Quality and Consumer Choice. It is sponsored jointly by AWB and the Washington Roundtable under the Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy (WashACE). It will be on AWB’s Web site at www.awb.org.

Governor Headed to China– AWB Members Will be Joining!
AWB Executive Committee members Al Ralston, Boeing, and David Brukhardt, Sterling Savings Bank, are headed to China and other Asian nations with Gov. Christine Gregoire and former Gov. Gary Locke on a trade mission. They leave Saturday and return in early October. Contact AWB’s Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

Executive Committee meeting Wednesday– 2006 Goals and Budget to be Adopted!
AWB will adopt its 2006 budget and association goals. On Friday, Sept. 23, the Board will meet and install the new officers and board members. AWB also will consider a position on I-912, the initiative repealing the nine cent gas tax increase. AWB’s Governmental Affairs Council voted to oppose I-912, and the full Board will consider that position that day. Contact AWB’s Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

Chris McCabe to Lead AWB’s Energy Committee
Effective immediately, Chris McCabe will be the new staff lead for AWB’s Energy Committee. Collins Sprague and Tim Boyd will remain the committee’s co-chairs. Contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

Remember Federal Deadlines – You Can Be Reimbursed for Prescription Drug Costs
Employers who pay for prescription drug benefits for Medicare-eligible retirees may be partially reimbursed if they enroll before Sept. 30 and send letters to eligible employees/retirees informing them of the benefit by Nov. 15. See www.cms.hhs.gov/medicarereform/CCguidances.asp. Medicare recipients may enroll in the program Nov. 15-May 15. See www.cms.hhs.gov/medicarereform/pdbma/employer.asp. Contact AWB’s Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

Washington Business Magazine Coming Out This Week…..Should Be in The Mail by the End of Next Week
The international trade issue of Washington Business magazine will be in mail boxes this week. Look for it in your mailbox around the 20. Meanwhile, there are extra copies of the 2005 Legislative Session Wrap-up and legislative voting record. Contact Alexis Nepomuceno at AlexisN@awb.org for additional copies.

2006 Redbook Is Here – Get a Free Copy at the Policy Summit!
The 2006 edition of the Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy (WashACE) Redbook has arrived. The 2006 Redbook compares Washington to other states on matters such as workers’ compensation rates, unemployment insurance figures and infrastructure costs. Those attending the Policy Summit automatically receive it as part of their registration packet. For your copy, please contact Alexis Nepomuceno at AlexisN@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

Washington State's Double Standard On Drugs and Alcohol - See This Week’s President’s Perspective at www.awb.org.