Policy Summit a Great Success – See it on TVW!
We are getting excellent reviews from the Policy Summit. Thank you.  If you missed it, please tune into TVW over the next few weeks to view it. It is worth watching.  For scheduling information, click on to www.tvw.org/tvguide. Congratulations to Judy Coovert, of Printcom, for a job well done as the 2006 Policy Summit chair. 

Alexander, Chambers and Sheldon Beat Challengers in Primary Election
Among the primary election’s highlights, state Supreme Court Justice Gerry Alexander (endorsed by AWB) beat back a challenge from attorney John Groen. The race was hotly contested and featured controversial advertisements in support of Groen. Also on the Supreme Court, Justice Tom Chambers easily survived a challenge from Jeanette Burrage. In the race between incumbent Justice Susan Owens and Sen. Steven Johnson (endorsed by AWB), neither candidate received a majority of votes, which means this contest will not be settled until the general election in November. Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, (endorsed by AWB) easily survived a union-backed challenge in the Democrat primary.

AWB Completes Candidate Endorsements
AWB’s Board of Directors completed its legislative candidate endorsements at its meeting last Friday.  We are in the process of notifying those we endorsed and will send letters to our members in their home legislative districts notifying them of the additional endorsements.  AWB automatically endorses lawmakers with 80 percent or better voting records, who are running for the same seat. AWB also endorses Board members such as Judy Warnick (GOP candidate in the 13th Legislative District House race) who won her primary race by 61 percent of the vote in the district stretching from Cle Elum to Moses Lake. For a list of AWB’s candidate endorsements, contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.  

Morton Wins Matson Award, Beckett Wins Gjerde Award, Blau Wins Bruhn Award – Congratulations!
Congratulations to Sen. Bob Morton, R-Orient, our 2006 Jim Matson Award winner as the legislator of the year; Bruce Beckett, Weyerhaeuser Co., our 2006 Ron Gjerde Award winner as the business lobbyist of the year; and, Lori Blau, Ponderay Newsprint, our 2006 S. Fred Bruhn Award winner as the AWB Board member of the year. They are well earned awards.

Help Us End the State Death Tax by Financially Supporting Initiative 920
The “Yes on 920 Committee:  Keeping Washington Family Business Alive” is fighting hard to pass I-920 and end the state death tax. Several of our members have already volunteered their endorsements and have made financial contributions. We need your help today to support our campaign financially. Without additional resources, we will be severely limited in our ability to get the word out to voters. I-920’s opponents are well funded by labor organizations and other interests that want to preserve the estate tax. According to an article in The Olympian on Sept. 22, the opponents plan on spending $3 million dollars and have raised $908,207 so far. The bottom-line: Unless donations are made to Yes on 920, we will not be able to compete with our opponents. Many voters rely on radio, TV and direct mailers to get their information, and we need your help to make sure our messages are heard. Please note that our state public disclosure laws prevent checks from being received by a campaign that are over $5000 after October 16. Checks that are $4999 or less may be received throughout the campaign. A contribution form may be downloaded at www.yeson920.com. If you have questions or would like additional information, contact Amber Carter at (360) 870-2915 or AmberC@awb.org.

Washington Business Election Issue in the Mail
The election issue of Washington Business is in the mail.  Read it and learn about the initiatives and the election issues.  For extra copies, contact AWB’s Lex Nepomuceno at (360) 943-1600 or AlexisN@awb.org. 

AWB Will Remain Neutral on Property Rights Initiative 933 
After a rigorous session considering the pros and cons of I-933, the property rights initiative, AWB’s Board did not reach the 60 percent vote threshold necessary to endorse or oppose I-933. While many opponents of the initiative believe that it is problematic as written, legislators, agency directors and government bureaucrats need to become more responsive to the taxpayers and property owners and not roll over them.

2007 Redbook is Available
The 2007 WashACE Redbook, measuring how Washington 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 a national edition through the National Association of Manufacturers. For a copy, contact Lex Nepomuceno at (360) 943-1600 or AlexisN@awb.org.

The Seattle Times Rejects I-937
Over the weekend, The Seattle Times editorialized against I-937, which would raise our energy costs by placing “renewable” energy mandates on utilities. Read it at http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=energyed24&date=20060924&query=I-937. Times columnist Kate Riley also has an interesting take on I-937. Read it at http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=riley25&date=20060925&query=Kate+Riley.         

2006 Northwest Environmental Summit – 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. Register at www.envsummit.com. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

State Auditor Seeks Business Community’s Input on Transportation
The State Auditor’s Office (SAO) has contracted with Elway Research, Inc. and FLT Consulting, Inc. to conduct research and outreach to citizens and stakeholders regarding performance audits. As a stakeholder in the in area of transportation, SAO is interested in hearing the business perspective about what is working well and what could work better in the area of transportation. The office is conducting executive interviews and focus groups over the next few months to get the business community’s input. A meeting has been scheduled for Oct. 2, 3-4 p.m. at AWB. Contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

Puget Sound Partnership Meeting – Recommendations on Puget Sound by Nov. 15
AWB is coordinating the business community’s work on the governor’s plan to have a series of recommendations on the Puget Sound ready by Nov. 15. Track this one at www.pugetsoundpartnership.org. Contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org, or AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Small Business Regional Issue Forums Coming in October
The Washington Policy Center’s Fall 2006 Small Business Regional Issue Forums (Yakima – Oct. 11; Tri-Cities - Oct. 12; Everett – Oct. 17; Vancouver - Oct. 19; and Spokane - Oct. 26) are designed to educate small business owners about public policy. Contact Shannon Garland at (360) 943-1600 or ShannonG@awb.org.