Happy New Year – AWB Starts Its New Fiscal Year Today
AWB’s record fiscal year ended last Friday.  Today is the first day of our new fiscal year. Thanks to you, we have had a very successful year. We appreciate your membership and support.

AWB Reaches Milestone – Finishes FY2006 with 6,000 Members!
AWB is growing in its influence in Washington and in the number of its members. Just recently, we crossed the threshold and welcomed our 6,000th member who is Mike Engstrom, Cutting Specialists, Inc., located in Tukwila.  Mike’s grandfather founded the company in 1952 and is one of Boeing’s quality award suppliers.  Mike employs 19 people and joined because AWB is working to repeal Washington’s estate or “death” tax.  This is great news! The more businesses we have as members, the more our elected officials will listen to employer concerns and save jobs.

October 16 is the Deadline for Contributions in Excess of $5,000.
It is October and we are fast approaching the deadline for contributions more than $5,000.  After that contributions less than $5,000 are allowed. The campaign to pass I-920, repeal of the death tax, and to defeat I-937, the government mandated energy initiative, need your financial help. Please help pass them.

Say “Yes” to Repeal Washington’s Estate Tax….Inter the Death Tax Permanently
The “Yes on 920 Committee: Keeping Washington Family Business Alive” is fighting hard to pass I-920 and end the state death tax. We need financial support today. A contribution form may be downloaded at www.yeson920.com. Contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

Say “NO” to Government Energy Mandates – Help Us Defeat Initiative 937!
If I-937 passes in November, it will raise our power bills between $185 and $370 million a year, and when fully implemented, it will cost our state between 3,600 and 7,100 jobs. Supporters of I-937 have already raised over $1 million and claim they will raise another $1 million by election time. Our polling shows we can win if we can effectively get our message out to the general public. Please help us defeat this ill-conceived measure by financially contributing to the No on I-937 campaign and filling out a “NO” endorsement form. Contributions over $5,000 must be received before Oct. 16. All contributions will go to voter contact and not to campaign overhead. For more information, visit www.nooni-937.com. Contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

2006 Northwest Environmental Summit Coming Soon – Register Now!
AWB, the Northwest Environmental Business Council (NEBC) and the Washington Dept. of Ecology will bring our state’s most comprehensive environmental conference to the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center on Oct. 18-19. Famed mountain climber Jim Whitaker will be the keynote speaker. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

Multiyear PBT Chemical Action Plan Proposed
Under a proposed rule by Ecology, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and perfluorooctane sulfonates will be the next chemicals selected for state action during the next three years. The CAPs will include a review of what reduction opportunities may exists for these chemicals, which could include a recommendation to ban certain products, improve pollution controls, and changing recycling and/or disposal practices. The AWB PBT Workgroup will meet Oct. 17 to discuss the proposed rule and develop comments, which are due Nov. 20. See the rule at www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0607025.html. Contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org

State Minimum Wage Goes to $7.93 in 2007 – The Nation’s Highest and Climbing Each Year
Washington’s minimum wage – the highest in the U.S. – is now set to increase by 29 cents to $7.93 next year. This is great news for states like Idaho with lower minimum wages that make them more competitive, but it will be an enormous burden on Washington’s businesses, which will have to support this increase. See www.columbian.com/news/localNews/09282006news63084.cfm. Contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org. 

2007 Redbook Available….Contact Lex  
The 2007 WashACE Redbook, measuring how our state stacks up against our other 49 competitor states, is available.  This is a collaborative effort between AWB, the Washington Research Council and Washington Roundtable.  We also sell the national edition through the National Association of Manufacturers. Contact AWB’s Alexis Nepomuceno at (360) 943-1600 or AlexisN@awb.org.

AWB Election Assistance….AWB Joins Forces with U.S. Chamber of Commerce
AWB is launching the “Vote for Business” program with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It is an excellent Web-based grassroots political involvement program. Since AWB is Washington state’s chamber of commerce, this program links the national, state and local chambers together on issues and elections.  Interested in the program or advertising in Washington Business? Contact Lex Nepomuceno at (360) 943-1600 or AlexisN@awb.org.  

Regulatory Costs Dwarf Federal Deficit – See This Week’s President’s Perspective at www.awb.org   

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