AWB Applauds the Senate’s Approval of a Constitutionally Protected Rainy Day Fund
The Senate has approved a bill to create a constitutionally protected rainy day fund. Under this measure, a minimum of 1 percent of general state revenues would be deposited in the fund each fiscal year. Moneys would be appropriated from the fund by a 60 percent majority vote of both houses of the Legislature. This is a very positive measure that AWB strongly supports. If it passes the Legislature, this bill will be placed on the November ballot as a constitutional amendment to be approved by voters. Contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

AWB Testifies Against Voluntary Quits Bill – Urge Legislators Not to Undo 2003 UI Reforms
AWB testified in front of the Senate Labor, Commerce, Research and Development committee in opposition to SB 6082. This bill not only undoes the “voluntary quits” portion of the 2003 UI reforms, but takes it a step further by allowing UI benefits for death, illness or disability of a member of the claimant’s immediate family, an undue family hardship, or to follow the claimant’s spouse, fiancé or domestic partner. Under this bill, these voluntary reasons for leaving employment would be compensated using employer-paid UI taxes. Please contact your legislators and ask them to vote “No” on SB 6082. Contact AWB’s Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

Gregoire and Four Other Governors Enter Greenhouse Gas Reduction Pact
The governors of Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and New Mexico have formed the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative, which will implement a joint strategy for greenhouse gas reduction. Within the next six months, they will develop a regional target for reducing greenhouse gases. During the next 18 months, they will devise a program, such as a load-based cap and trade program to reach the target. A multi-state registry to track and manage greenhouse gas emissions in the region will also be developed. Contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

AWB Urges House to Pass Small Business Estate Tax Exemption
AWB testified in favor of HB 1884, which would provide family-owned business with a limited deduction to the estate tax. Please keep contacting your state representatives and urge them to support this bill. Special thanks to Mark Sonderen from Sonderen Packaging – a family-owned business that employs over 110 people – for coming to Olympia from Spokane to testify in support of this important measure. "Family-owned businesses serve as the backbone of Washington’s economy," AWB President Don Brunell said. "That is why it is important for our elected officials to do everything they can to safeguard the future of these businesses." Contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

Mental Health Parity Bill Goes to House Floor – Help AWB Stop This Measure
Please urge your state representatives to oppose the mental health parity bill, HB 1460.  It is now awaiting a vote on the House floor. This bill is an extension of the bill that passed a couple of years ago – the previous bill applied to businesses with 50+ employees, and this bill expands that to individuals and small business. AWB finds these kinds of mandates burdensome on business, but we need your help to stop it. Contact Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org. 

Tell Your Legislators Not to Reopen Cockle Decision and Wreck 2003 UI Reforms
HB 1244, which would reopen the Washington State Supreme Court’s 2001 Cockle decision, which reversed 30 years of benefit law by ruling that benefits such as health insurance must be included in the calculation of a worker's benefits, has been passed out of committee to House Rules.  AWB strongly opposes this bill. Please tell your representatives that you do not want this bill to go to the House floor for a vote. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

Stay the Course on WASL, Urges AWB
AWB strongly believes that graduating students need a solid foundation of reading, writing and math skills if they are to be successful, regardless of what path they choose after high school.  Thus, we remain supportive of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) graduation requirement and are seriously concerned with the proposal to delay the math portion of the exam for an additional three years.  AWB is equally concerned with legislation that proposes to delay science, reading, and/or writing requirements. Contact Mellani McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

Lobby Lunch – Mar. 1, 12 noon-1 p.m.
Contact AWB's Shannon Garland at (360) 943-1600 or ShannonG@awb.org.

Climate Change Conference at UW, Mar. 2 – Register Now at www.uwcle.org 
Learn more about the issues surrounding climate change at a great new conference at the University of Washington Law School, William Gates Hall, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mar. 2. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Speakers include U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island, and Jay Manning, director of the state’s Dept. of Ecology, and representatives from such major corporations as Alcoa and Weyerhaeuser. The conference is sponsored by AWB, the Washington State Dept. of Ecology, the Washington Bar Association and the Washington Environmental Council. Registration is $240. Learn more and register online at www.uwcle.org. You may also register by fax at (206) 685-3929.

Legal Aspects of Interviewing, Hiring, Managing and Discharging Employees – Last Chance to Register!
Attend this important seminar on Feb. 28 at the SeaTac Hilton. For more information and to register, visit www.awb.org/events/seminars/employmentaw.asp . Contact AWB's Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

Rep. Barbara Bailey Discusses Emergency Clauses on Next Washington Business Weekly
More and more bills are receiving emergency clauses regardless if they are truly addressing emergencies. Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, will examine this troublesome trend on the next Washington Business Weekly, Thursday on Tacoma’s KLAY-AM 1180 (11 a.m.-12 noon) and Spokane's KSBN-AM 1230 (5-6 p.m.) and online at www.awb.org.

OSHA 10-Hour Certification Course – Mar. 7, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Tacoma Sheraton
Every minute 6 workplace injuries occur. Don’t let your company become an OSHA statistic.
To reduce or prevent the likelihood of costly fines and penalties of non-compliance, attend this seminar! Register online at www.awb.org/events/seminars/osha10hrcert.asp. Contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

Workplace Discrimination Seminar – Mar. 21 at the Downtown Seattle Red Lion
Harassment and discrimination in the workplace present a clear and present danger to businesses. Failure to adopt a proactive and aggressive strategy for dealing with this danger can result in crushing lawsuits, loss of employee morale, decline in productivity, and the erosion of a company's public image. Attend this seminar to learn all compliance procedures at length on Mar. 21 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, please visit www.awb.org/events/seminars/workplacediscrimination.asp. Contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

We Don’t Need Another Mandate - See This Week's President's Perspective at www.awb.org

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