On Friday, President Bush signed the Class Action Fairness Act (S. 5) into law. Following the Senate’s lead, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill, 279-149, last Thursday. “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,” AWB President Don Brunell said. Brunell and former Gov. Booth Gardner led the class action coalition in our state. This is a great victory for employers; and this was a long time in coming. It goes to show that persistence and grassroots activism really does work. The following House members voted for this important legislation – Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Arlington; Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver; Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Pasco; Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Colville; and Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma. Thank these representatives for their support. Contact AWB’s Don Brunell at (360) 943-1600 or DonB@awb.org.

 

AWB Fights “Pay or Play” Health Care – Expensive for Business, Bad for Economy!Hearings were held last week on the so-called Health Care Responsibility Act (HB 1702 and SB 5637), which would force employers to either provide employee health care or pay a tax to enroll employees in the state’s Basic Health Care Plan. AWB testified in opposition to this costly and ineffective mandate, but we need your help, too. Contact committee members and tell them not to let this bill out of Senate and House Health Care committees. Contact AWB’s Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

 

AWB is cosponsoring a Biotech Conference on April 7 in Seattle at the downtown Red Lion. It is free of charge. Contact Don Brunell at (360) 943-1600 or DonB@awb.org.

 

Two bills (HB 1173, SB 5069) that would create expensive employer-paid family leave insurance programs are being considered by the Legislature. These bills would mandate a new worker entitlement by socking employers with yet another new tax and administrative burden. Go to http://www.awb.org/, contact your legislators and urge them to say “No” to HB 1173 and SB 5069. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

 

McIntire to Business Community – Let’s Have Dialogue on Taxation!
At last week’s Lobby Lunch, Rep. Jim McIntire, D-Seattle, chair of the House Finance Committee, called on the business community to get involved in helping him come up with a vision for reforming the state’s tax system. McIntire expressed grave concern that the current tax system is inadequate especially in the face of the current budget crunch. Beginning this week, McIntire will hold a hearing on ways to solve the state’s immediate budget crisis. Next week, McIntire will introduce ideas for a state income tax. “We’re in our third biennium of significant budget shortfalls,” McIntire observed while illustrating the need for structural change in the state’s tax system. Contact AWB’s Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org if you would like to participate in a discussion with Rep. McIntire about tax reform and important considerations for your business.

 

The Coalition of Washington Business Organizations (COWBO) met with Gov. Gregoire last week. It was a productive meeting in which we talked about the budget, taxes, UI, health care, workers’ comp, transportation and education. The Governor asked AWB to coordinate a small working group to resolve health care issues. There are 14 organizations in COWBO, including AWB. Contact Don Brunell at (360) 943-1600 or DonB@awb.org.

 

The Unemployment Insurance update by the Washington Research Council has been posted at http://www.researchcouncil.org/. Be sure to download it — it is a quick read and quite informative. The updated study is part of our 2005 legislative strategy to get the facts out on unemployment insurance. We are concerned that a bill may be introduced to unravel our hard-fought unemployment insurance reforms from 2003. Go to http://www.awb.org/ and click on to your legislators. Tell them to “Leave the UI reforms alone—Let them work!” Contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

 

The legislative session is moving along at a rapid clip. March 2 is the date after which no new bills that are not necessary for implementation of the budget may be introduced. Between now and then, all manner of legislation may emerge. Meanwhile, AWB is closely monitoring all new bills for their impacts on business and the economy.

 

The Legislature is now considering bills that would enact new health care mandates on top of the ones we already have. This is bad news for business. Mandates increase the cost of health care.Employers already have a hard time providing coverage, but there are several bills that would require additional services be covered. With 47 health mandates already on the books, the Legislature should prioritize the mandates we’ve got and try to get costs down before adding more expenses to the system. Go to http://www.awb.org/ and tell your legislators to stop the mandate madness. Contact Mellani Hughes McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

 

SB 5842, which would severely damage retro programs, was heard in committee. Meant as retribution against organizations that actively campaigned against the current legislative majority, it will hurt associations in general, including AWB. AWB was there to testify strongly against this terrible bill. Help us by urging your legislators to oppose SB 5842 and its companion bill, HB 1857. Contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

 

AWB Land Use Committee Meeting – Focus on Hydraulic Project Approval Program!AWB’s Land Use Committee is meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 10:15 a.m. at AWB to discuss pending legislation and negotiations on WDFW’s Hydraulic Project Approval program. Contact AWB’s Kristen Sawin at (360) 943-1600 or KristenS@awb.org.

 

The next Lobby Lunch will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24. 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:/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 will be held 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 Web site http://www.awb.org/.