AWB Regional Board meetings start tomorrow
Let AWB know what we can do for you. Regional Board meetings are your chance to participate in the formation of AWB’s 2008 legislative agenda and to have your say on November ballot issues. Be sure to mark your region’s meeting on your calendar: Sept. 5 (Everett and Tacoma), Sept. 6 (Bellevue), Sept. 7 (Vancouver), Sept. 11 (Spokane and Moses Lake), and Sept. 12 (Kennewick). For more information, contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.

AWB filing friend-of-the-court briefs
AWB’s Executive Committee voted today to file two friend-of-the-court briefs with the Washington Supreme Court in cases of interest to our members. Sales v. Weyerhaeuser involves a take-home asbestos exposure case arising from the plaintiff’s father’s employment in a Weyerhaeuser mill in Mountain Pine, Ark. The issue concerns the rules about where lawsuits ought to be heard. The lawsuit was filed in Pierce County, but the plaintiff, his doctors, all witnesses and evidence are located in Arkansas. AWB’s brief opposes the practice of forum shopping. The other case is Thurston County v. Quality Rock Products, which is a land-use permitting case arising from Quality Rock Products’ efforts to expand gravel operations in unincorporated Thurston County. Quality Rock Products was initially granted a permit under a State Environmental Policy Act determination of “no adverse environmental impacts,” and a hearing examiner approved the project. However, at the behest of a local environmental group formed to oppose the expansion, the Thurston County Board of Commissioners reversed themselves and declared that the project would have adverse environmental impacts. The Washington Court of Appeals sided with the county. AWB’s brief argues a county can’t deny a permit for environmental impacts when it already issued an uncontested SEPA determination that there were no environmental impacts. For information about this or any other AWB legal issue, contact Kris Tefft at KrisT@awb.org or call (360) 943-1600.

OIC won’t appeal Spokane court ruling on TAA

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said he will not appeal the ruling of Spokane Judge Kathleen O’Connor declaring Technical Assistance Advisory 06-07 invalid. The assurance was given by Kreidler in a recent conversation with AWB President Don Brunell. Last spring, Associated Industries and AWB filed suit against the Office of the Insurance Commissioner for issuing the advisory, which would have overturned a 1995 law designed to help make health care more affordable for small companies. The law involved rating practices for association health care plans like AWB’s HealthChoice program. In her ruling, Judge O’Connor declared the TAA invalid and unenforceable and said changes to the law must be made by the Legislature.

AWB Government Affairs Council meeting Sept. 14
AWB’s Governmental Affairs Council will meet on Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at AWB. We will discuss changes to AWB’s 2008 Legislative Objectives. We will also take a position on I-960 and simple majority. For more information, contact AWB’s Gary Chandler at (360) 943-1600 or GaryC@awb.org.

WASL scores released

Most high-school seniors in the class of 2008 have already met their graduation requirements, according to results released by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction on Aug. 30. The results show that, among those who have taken the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, 92.6 percent have passed in reading and 95.3 percent have passed in writing. This is good news for Washington’s students and teachers. However, WASL math results look grim, since among those who have taken the test, only 67 percent have passed. Fortunately—or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it—students need only pass the reading and writing portions to graduate. Thanks to recent legislation—and against the wishes of many business leaders—students are not required to pass the math portion of the WASL until 2013. News of the results has triggered a surge in opinion pieces, which AWB’s Olympia Business Watch blog covered here: http://awbblog.typepad.com/olympia_business_watch/. For more information on WASL results, see OSPI’s Web site: http://www.k12.wa.us/Communications/pressreleases2007/WASLScoreRelease2007.aspx.

AWB’s Institute to lead Work Readiness Credential effort

AWB’s non-profit affiliate, the Institute for Workforce Development and Economic Sustainability, has received a contract from the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board to educate Washington employers about the benefits of using the Work Readiness Credential in their recruiting and hiring process. “The Work Readiness Credential solves one of the biggest problems employers tell us they have—hiring qualified entry-level employees,” said Mike Hudson, IWDES executive director. With the credential, employers can confidently hire entry-level workers who can complete work accurately, on time and to a high standard of quality. “The credential has been going through final testing for the past year and we are nearly ready to launch it statewide,” said Hudson. For more information on how the credential will benefit your business, contact Mike Hudson at mikeh@awb.org.

Guard it! Washington identity theft prevention tour

Identity theft is a persistent and costly problem for Washingtonians. “Access to personal information—including Social Security numbers, addresses, credit card numbers, and personal buying habits—allows businesses to target audiences and customize sales efforts. But it also permits unwelcome invasions of personal privacy through telemarketing calls, fraudulent sales pitches, and other uses consumers never intended,” according to the state attorney general’s Web site. In an effort to help consumers protect themselves, Attorney General Rob McKenna is sponsoring “Guard It! Washington,” a multi-agency campaign and tour to reduce identity theft for citizens and businesses in Washington. The tour began in Yakima on July 12 and will continue until Oct. 18, when it finishes in Oak Harbor. For more information, please see http://www.guarditwashington.com.

September is National Preparedness and NOAA Weather Radio Awareness Month

Emergencies and natural disasters often strike when people least expect them. Survival skills and thoughtful preparation often mean the difference between life and death. With this in mind, Washington is observing National Preparedness Month, Weather Radio Awareness Month and 9-1-1 Day in September. During September, all homeowners, businesses, schools, health care providers and government agencies are encouraged to review their emergency response plans and 911 procedures. Likewise, on Sept. 19, all are encouraged to participate in a statewide earthquake drill and tsunami communications test from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. For more information, including instructions on when to call 911, what to do in case of an earthquake, how to use weather radios and how to survive a tsunami, please see http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/prep_campaign.shtml.

Don’t miss Olympia Business Watch
Olympia Business Watch is AWB’s blog reviewing the news and events shaping business and politics. Some of the recent posts by AWB’s Communications and Government Affairs staff are Some Labor Day Lawsuit Fun; No Shortage of Perspectives on WASL, Math and Teaching; TNT Editorial Hits Math WASL Hard - and OSPI Harder; and Isn't This Illegal? To see these and other posts, check out Olympia Business Watch at http://awbblog.typepad.com/olympia_business_watch/. 

Policy Summit sponsorships still available
AWB Policy Summit sponsorship opportunities are still available. Sponsors will be entered in a special drawing for a coveted AWB 100th Anniversary Pendleton woolen blanket. For more information, contact AWB’s Jennifer Davis at JenniferD@awb.org. The Policy Summit is Sept. 19-21 at the Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine. Register today!

Advertise in Washington Business magazine
Washington Business magazine, published by AWB, is one of the best ways to communicate with business and political leaders in Washington. Support AWB and make your message heard by advertising in Washington Business magazine. Contact Chad Taylor at (360) 736-8065 or Chad@silveragency.com.

Don’t miss the 2007 Northwest Environmental Summit
AWB, the Northwest Environmental Business Council, and the Washington State Department of Ecology will bring the state’s most comprehensive environmental conference to the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center on Oct. 17 and 18. Nominations are under consideration for company projects that benefit the environment. Download the awards nomination form and register at www.envsummit.com. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

AWB Workers’ Comp Retro Program Safety Workshop- October 2

Don’t miss this opportunity to increase your safety knowledge and effectiveness in developing and administering safety programs within your company. The AWB Retro Program is offering a four course safety seminar as part of the “Certified Safety Coordinator” program. For more information, please go to: http://www.awb.org/events/compretro.asp or call Jennifer Costello at 1-800-521-9325.

See This Week's President's Perspective at http://www.awb.org/, Jim Casey belongs next to Bill Gates