Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, was elected senate minority by the Senate’s GOP caucus. He replaces Sen. Bill Finkbeiner, R-Kirkland, who stepped down from this leadership post to spend more time with his family and on his graduate school studies. Hewitt was an AWB Board member when he was executive director of the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce.

 

 On Dec. 15, Gov. Gregoire’s policy staff will meet for a second round of discussions with AWB and other stakeholders to discuss the third and final draft of the governor’s Growth Management Act update package for the 2006 legislative session. Please let us know if you have any related comments or suggestions. Contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

 

Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, chair of the Senate’s Health Care Committee, will meet with AWB’s Health Care Committee on Dec. 19. Contact AWB’s Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org

 

Earl Hale, of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, will join AWB’s Executive Committee on Dec. 13, 12 noon, for a discussion on education and economic development. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Davis at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferD@awb.org.

 

 

L&I Names Small Business Liaison
Ron Langley has been named L&I’s first small business liaison. The position was created after feedback from AWB and other groups earlier this year. Langley’s job is to assist small businesses in dealing with the department and assist the department in better serving the needs of small businesses. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

 

 

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. Contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

 

DOE’s final draft chemical action plan for PBDE flame retardants is available for public comments. Comments are due Dec. 30. Contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

 

AWB's Legislative Reception - Sign Up to Sponsor, Register Today!
AWB's Legislative Reception is coming to Olympia on Feb. 8. Please pledge your support for this great event. To become a sponsor, see www.awb.org/events/legreception.asp. Contact AWB’s Alisha Boggs at (360) 943-1600 or AlishaB@awb.org

 

ANWR Vote Will 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 has a document briefing you on what you need to do to comply with Initiative 901, the smoking ban, which took 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.

 

 

Ron Bueing, chair of AWB’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee will discuss AWB’s legislative objectives for 2006 on Washington Business Weekly. The program airs 11 a.m.-12 noon, Thursday, on Tacoma’s KLAY 1180 AM. You may also listen at http://www.awb.org/.

 

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.

 

AWB members may now take advantage of sponsorship opportunities with one, consolidated billing. An added benefit is that registrations for the events are included as part of the package. Contact AWB’s Deb Brown at (360) 943-1600 or DebraB@awb.org.

 

 

Caps are a Bad Idea - See This Week’s President’s Perspective atwww.awb.org. .