AWB wins American Chamber of Commerce Executives’ Membership Achievement Award 
The American Chamber of Commerce Executives notified AWB that it received a Membership Achievement Award for 2006. This is an honor for AWB because our membership staff works extremely hard to recruit and retain members. It also is an honor for our entire staff because we all work hard to insure that our members receive value for their dues and sponsorship dollars. Award recipients place in the top 10 in the number of new members, new member dollars and membership retention. ACCE will recognize for its achievement at the ACCE annual convention next month.

Forbes rates Washington #5 in Best States for Business report – More at Olympia Business Watch blog
Washington got some great national publicity when Forbes magazine awarded it the #5 slot in the magazine’s Best States for Business report. This is great news that reflects our strong economy, but AWB remains concerned that all this may be at risk if the Legislature doesn’t do more to control costs of doing business. Read more at Olympia Business Watch at http://awbblog.typepad.com/olympia_business_watch.

Federal climate change legislation introduced in U.S. Senate
Senators Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and Arlen Specter, R-Penn.., have introduced legislation designed to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The Low Carbon Economy Act of 2007 creates an economy-wide mandatory and tradable permits system modeled after the U.S. Acid Rain Program. By setting an annual target and allowing firms to buy, sell and trade credits to achieve that target, the program aims to achieve carbon reductions across the economy. Members may view the text of the legislation and supporting materials at www.energy.senate.gov. AWB is assessing potential impacts of the legislation on its members. Contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Dept. of Ecology’s Lead Chemical Action Plan begins this week
Ecology’s Lead Chemical Action Plan Advisory Committee will meet to begin developing a CAP for lead. Grant Nelson will represent AWB on the advisory committee, which makes recommendations on lowering risks to human health and the environment from lead. Contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

Nominations sought for Digital Goods Task Force – Due Aug. 1
AWB will provide nominations to a task force to study digital goods taxation for the next year and present its findings to the Legislature in Sept. 2008. Revenue will consider involvement from small and large businesses that generate, deliver, or use electronically delivered products; financial institutions; insurers; persons with expertise in tax law in an academic- or private-sector setting; and persons experienced in working with computers and electronically delivered products. If you or someone you know would be interested in serving on this task force, submit the nomination and category it would fill to AWB’s Amber Carter at AmberC@awb.org by Aug. 1.

Revenue’s Gil Brewer to meet with AWB Tax & Fiscal Policy Council – July 25
The Tax & Fiscal Policy Council’s next meeting (July 25, 9:30 a.m.–12 noon) is dedicated to preparing for the next legislative session. AWB members will hear from Gil Brewer, legislative liaison for the Dept. of Revenue, on agency plans for the 2008 session, discuss our own goals for the business community, review our legislative policy objectives, and make recommendations to the Board. Contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.