“Pay or Play” Health Care Bills Heard in Committee – Urge Your Legislators to Oppose!
Last week, the “Pay or Play” bills, SB 6356/HB 2517, were heard in both the House and Senate. AWB gave strong testimony against this legislation which would require employers with 5,000 or more employees to spend 9 percent on employee health care or get hit with a state health care tax. AWB members Doris Johnson, Vancouver Bolt & Supply, and Susan Fagan, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, gave excellent testimony explaining that 5,000 employees is just the first step. Next year this bill could apply to your business!  Go to www.awb.org, and tell your legislator to oppose HB 2517/SB 6356. Contact AWB’s Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

Fitzsimmons and Brown Outline Governor’s 2006 Agenda at Lobby Lunch
Gov. Gregoire’s Chief of Staff Tom Fitzsimmons and Legislative Director Marty Brown outlined the governor’s legislative objectives at last week’s Lobby Lunch at AWB. The governor’s objectives include early learning, health care reform, accountability, regulatory reform and competitiveness. Fitzsimmons also stated that the governor is open to having two hour question and answer sessions with the business community on a quarterly basis.

Streamlined Sales Tax Bill Heard in Senate – AWB Strongly in Support!
SB 6594, which would bring Washington’s sales tax rules in line with other states, has been heard in the Senate’s Ways & Means Committee and passed on to the Rules Committee. Go to www.awb.org. and urge your senator to support SB 6594.  Contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

Biodiesel Week in Legislature – Several Bills to be Heard – AWB Supports Incentives for Private Development
Several bills promoting biodiesel will be heard in the legislature this week. AWB supports tax incentives for private enterprises to support alternate fuels, including biodiesel. We oppose legislation or regulations mandating percentages of energy mixes.  We urge lawmakers to target incentives to insure that incentives to develop biofuels are in directed to the private sector.  We also urge lawmakers to carefully consider what is going on in other states, and remember that biofuel stock sources are different and should be treated that way.  In Washington, canola, a dry land crop, may be more feasible than soybeans. A case in point – Minnesota lawmakers passed legislation mandating the blend despite warnings from University of Minnesota economist C. Ford Runge that soybean byproducts could cause fueling problems at low temperatures. As a result, Minnesota’s Dept. of Commerce was forced to grant a 21-day suspension of a requirement for adding this blend to conventional diesel. REMEMBER, AWB supports alternative fuels development. Make sure to consider if carefully.  Check it out: www.state.mn.us/portal/mn/jsp/home.do?agency=Commerce. Contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

Stressed Out on Heat Stress Rule!
Last Friday, AWB members met with L&I Director Weeks and WISHA staff regarding the business community’s concerns with the agency’s pre-proposed rule addressing heat stress. Heat stress in Washington state, you ask? The rule broadly applies to all businesses, indoor and outdoors, when the temperature is above 80 degrees and the relative humidity reaches 50 percent. AWB encouraged L&I to concentrate on educating employers and employees regarding the potential risks related to high temperatures and humidity and rely on existing safety and health requirements rather than create a new rule. Contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Environmental Groups to File Mandatory Energy Portfolio Initiative
This week we expect a coalition of environmental groups to file an initiative mandating that “Green Energy” sources be part of our energy mix.  They want more electricity from solar, wind and biomass energy which they call “renewables.”  However, they do not include hydropower as a “renewable” source even though our state and region is blessed with an abundance of rain and snowfall, especially this year.  AWB opposes these mandates and believes the government should provide incentives to the private sector to develop new conventional and alternative energy sources and clear permitting hurdles to allow expedited development. Contact Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

Workforce Training Incentive Bill Heard in Senate – Tell Your Legislators to Support SB 6293!
Senate Bill 6293, which would authorize employer tax incentives for the employment of students in math and science programs, was heard in the Senate International Trade and Economic Development Committee. AWB’s Workforce Training Chair Rosemary Brester, of Hobart Machined Products, testified and described the difficulty of Washington employers finding job applicants with the required education and skill level particularly in math and science. AWB supports this program to help promote workforce training in high demand job skills. Go to www.awb.org, and tell your legislator to support SB 6293. Contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

AWB Asks Gov. and Legislature to Review NASCAR Proposal
In a letter to Gov. Gregoire and legislative leadership, AWB President Don Brunell asked that a legislative study committee be assigned to review the NASCAR track proposal which is planned for the Bremerton area.  International Speedway Corp., an AWB member, developed an economic analysis showing that a NASCAR track will generate $7.1 billion in economic activity over 30 years. AWB is reviewing the proposal.  While no legislative action is anticipated this year, it will be a focus for the 2007 session.

George Will Column on Maryland’s New Law Requiring 8 Percent of Payroll to Health Care is Worth Reading
Columnist George Will wrote an excellent column about Maryland legislation targeting Wal-Mart by the unions on health care. The overwhelming Democrat majority in the Maryland legislature overturned Republican Gov. Ehrlich’s veto of the so-called “Fair Share Health Care Bill.” The Maryland legislation requires that every employer in the state with 10,000 or more employees spend at least 8 percent of its payrolls on health care for employees. The only company in Maryland that fits that description is Wal-Mart. This sets a troubling precedent for other states and companies. Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, and Rep. Eileen Cody, D-Seattle, are sponsoring similar legislation to require companies with more than 5,000 employees to spend up to 9 percent of their payroll on health care. Cody admits it is the first step toward getting smaller employers to do the same. The Washington legislation had a hearing in the House Commerce and Labor Committee, chaired by union activist Rep. Steve Conway, D-Tacoma. The AFL-CIO said it would pressure lawmakers in more than 30 state legislatures to adopt laws requiring companies like Wal-Mart to spend a minimum percentage of payroll on health care for their employees. See Will’s column at:  www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/18/AR2006011801873.html  

AWB Speaks Up Strongly in Support of the WASL – Urge Your Legislators to Defend the WASL!
Last week in the Senate, several bills that would diminish the importance of the WASL test as a requirement for high school graduation were heard in committee. Thanks to AWB member Rosemary Brester, Hobart Machined Products, who testified about how important an educated work force is to her business.  More bills will follow in the House this week.  AWB will be there to support retaining the WASL and strong academic standards. Contact Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

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