AWB Urges Governor to Veto Paid Family Leave Bill
AWB opposed the Paid Family Leave Bill (SB 5659) and urges the governor to veto it. The legislation grants five weeks of paid leave at $250 per week for maternity or bonding leave. A task force of legislators, labor, and business was set up to figure out how to finance and administer the program before it begins in October 2009. The bill’s fiscal note estimates that about 43 percent of the $67 million two-year cost goes to the new bureaucracy. Just over half goes to people receiving $250 a week for paid family leave. Tell the governor you oppose SB 5659, and urge her to stop it with her veto.  Contact AWB's Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

AWB Staff Did Well in 2007 Session 
Employers fared much better in 2007 than they did in 1993, the last time Democrats held such dominating majorities. Then, the Legislature hit employers with $1.1 billion in new taxes, fees, health reforms and new worker benefits. Both business and lawmakers learned some lessons from that experience. We entered the session better prepared with information and ready to work with lawmakers to protect our economic competitiveness.  It was a mixed bag. We won some and we lost some. But without a doubt, it could have been much worse. Much credit goes to our entire staff for its teamwork.

Governor Should Partially Veto WASL Bill
AWB is urging Gov. Gregoire to veto Section 2 of ESSB 6023 - the WASL bill. This section of the bill would create no less than 18 new alternative assessments in addition to the current alternatives. The creation of 18 new alternatives makes alignment between state standards and graduation requirements a virtual impossibility. In addition, this section removes the requirement that students must take the WASL twice before taking an alternative assessment, allowing instead for the alternative assessment after only one attempt at the WASL. These two concepts, particularly when combined, will undermine the reliability and validity of the state’s assessment system and will compromise not only the integrity of our school system but also the efforts of the past 14 years toward the fundamental goal of increasing student achievement. Contact AWB’s Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

Lucky We Have Money Now – Where Will We Be in the Future?
Cushioned by a $2 billion surplus, our state’s operating budget grew by a whopping 15% while our revenues will likely grow by 7.5 percent in the next two years.  Under any economic conditions, if you spend money twice as fast as it’s coming in you’ll go broke. The budget adds 3,000 new state employees. The Legislature voted to set up a rainy day fund, launching it with a $724 million deposit. The fund goes into the constitution if the voters approve it in November.

Chopp Eyeing the UI Trust Fund for Paid Family Leave 
According to media reports, House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, is eyeing interest on the unemployment trust fund to pay for five weeks of paid family leave at $250 per week. Right now, the legislation is limited to birth or adoption of a child. Senate Democrats wanted a two-cent an hour payroll tax on workers to set up the program now.  Instead, the bill set up a task force to study funding and implementation. AWB will be involved in the discussions and work to avoid payroll taxes on employers. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org. 

MacDonald Resigns as Transportation Chief
Secretary of Transportation Doug MacDonald will leave his position on July 27. MacDonald has headed the department since April 2001 following nine years as executive director of the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority. MacDonald plans to live in Seattle and work in the environmental and transportation fields.

AWB Successfully Restores Funding for Regional Haze Air Quality Program
AWB was successful in restoring funding for Ecology’s regional haze air quality program in the operating budget (HB 1128). This is an important program for the state’s visibility and air quality. A number of AWB members have entered into an agreement with Ecology, supporting this program and the funds allocated by the budget proviso, approximately $600,000, will expand in accordance with the terms of this agreement. Contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Snohomish PUD Receives Tidal Energy Permits
The Snohomish County Public Utility District received preliminary permits from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to study seven tidal energy locations in the north Puget Sound.  While not committing to the projects, the PUD is moving forward with the feasibility studies.

Governor Should Veto Triple Damages Bill
AWB wants Gov. Gregoire to veto SB 5726. This bill will give Washington the nation’s lowest threshold for filing lawsuits alleging bad faith on the denial of questionable insurance claims and allows the court to award triple the damages. The legislation makes our state a magnet for speculative lawsuits, increasing costs and congesting the courts. Higher costs for insurers mean insurance premiums for consumers. Insurance carriers will look twice before writing coverage in Washington. There has to be a better, more equitable way to settle disputed claims. Hopefully, the governor will veto it.  Encourage her to do so. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org. 

China Winning Greenhouse Gas Race
China is set to surpass the U.S. as the world's top emitter of greenhouse gases this year – much earlier than forecast – because of its rapid economic growth, according to the International Energy Agency. Unchecked, over the next 25 years, the growth of China's greenhouse-gas emissions is likely to double that of all the members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, including Europe, the U.S., Canada, South Korea and Japan. Though China signed the Kyoto Protocol, its status as a developing country allowed it to be exempt from the treaty's greenhouse-gas limits. Burning fossil fuels release greenhouses gases, including carbon dioxide. Many climate scientists think these gases cause or contribute to global warming. China's economy has expanded more than 10% a year for four straight years. Last week, the government announced that gross domestic product expanded 11.1 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, raising fears of excess in the economy. China's leaders say that since the major developed economies grew rich using their own cheap energy - also mostly coal - China should have the same privilege. They argue that any emissions caps would break economic growth, force China to slow its development, and keep its 1.3 billion citizens needlessly impoverished. 

Legislative Wrap-up in the Works
Our staff is compiling the session wrap-up which will appear in the next issue of Washington Business magazine.  You’ll get the scoop on the good, bad, the ugly and the “kicked ahead.”  We have our work cut out for us next year!

Forklift Safety: Train the Trainer Workshop
Proper forklift-safety training will make your company a safer place to work—and keep you in compliance with the law. This seminar will teach current licensed operators how to conduct proper safety training for their employees. Don’t miss this half day seminar on June 6th! To register, please visit www.awb.org/events/forkliftsafety.asp. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

Do You Know Someone Who Should Be on AWB’s Board?  Nominations are being Taken! 
Send us that person’s name and contact information by May 11. Contact AWB’s Dick Walter at (360) 943-1600 or DickW@awb.org. 

Compliance Tools at Your Fingertips!
The Association of Washington Business has partnered with leading Washington law firms to provide employers with easy reference guides covering employment and environmental laws and regulations.  To see a complete list of our guides and posters, please visit www.awb.org/services/publications.asp. Contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

Spring Meeting in Spokane - Sign up Today
Don’t miss AWB’s Spring Board Meeting at Spokane’s Davenport Hotel, May 22-23. Hear a keynote address from Tom Donahue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and enjoy the presentation of the Community Service Awards. To register, contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org, or log onto www.awb.org/events/MayBoard.asp.

GAC Retreat on June 20 & 21 – Reserve Your Room!
Mark your calendars for June 20-21 for the Governmental Affairs Council Retreat at the Alderbrook Resort & Spa on the Hood Canal. Reserve your room now by calling (800) 622-9370, and there is a block of rooms under AWB. A registration form will be available soon. Contact AWB’s Shannon Garland at (360) 943-1600 or ShannonG@awb.org.

Workplace Tragedies Hold Lessons for All of Us - See This Week's President's Perspective at www.awb.org