Tomorrow is Election Day—Don’t forget to vote!
Don’t forget that tomorrow is Election Day. If you are voting by mail, make sure your ballot is in the mail before the post offices close. If you are voting in person, be sure to get to the polls before 8 p.m. There are many important issues to be decided, including the useful rainy day fund amendment, for which we urge a “yes” vote, and the terrible Referendum 67, which was written by and for the benefit of trial lawyers and richly deserves your “no” vote.

Agnew appointed to Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed Creigh H. Agnew to a three-year term on the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. The board includes nine voting members—three from business, three from labor and three from state agencies—and advises the governor on workforce development policy, ensures that the state’s workforce preparation services and programs work together, and evaluates performance. The board also advocates for the vocational and technical training and education needs of workers, who account for about 75 percent of Washington’s workforce. AWB is responsible for recommending business representatives to the board. “As a past AWB board chair and retired Weyerhaeuser executive, Creigh is in a unique position to advocate high educational standards and continued career and vocational training as integral parts to keeping Washington’s workforce competitive,” said AWB president Don Brunell.

Congress approves seven-year Internet tax ban
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill to prevent states from taxing Internet access through 2014, and President Bush signed it into law. "By extending the ban on Internet access taxes for a longer period of time, we give businesses the certainty they need to spend billions of dollars to construct, maintain and update the broadband Internet infrastructure throughout the country," Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, told the Los Angeles Times.

Bayne is 2008 Policy Summit chair 
Doug Bayne, vice president of Walla Walla’s Banner Bank, will be the 2008 AWB Policy Summit chair. The Policy Summit will be held on Sept. 24-26, 2008, at Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, Wash. Highlights will include a debate 2008 Washington gubernatorial candidates.

Still time to return Employer Needs and Practices surveys
There is still time to return your Employer Needs and Practices survey in time to be included in the 2008 report.  This information is vital for the Workforce Board and the Legislature to have when setting policy and allocating resources to help you train your employees.  If you have any questions or need another survey, contact AWB’s Mike Hudson at (360) 943-1600 or MikeH@awb.org.

Don’t miss Olympia Business Watch
Olympia Business Watch is AWB’s blog reviewing the news and events shaping business and politics. Recent posts by AWB’s Communications and Government Affairs staff include: Boeing Rethinking Supplier Strategy, Oil Prices and Education Spending: Which has Grown Faster? and Brunell Looks at Competitiveness of the Palmetto State. To see these and other posts, check out Olympia Business Watch at www.olympiabusinesswatch.com.

AWB, labor and L&I to discuss outdoor heat stress rule
The Department of Labor and Industries is developing a permanent outdoor heat stress rule. L&I will file the proposed rule (CR102) in early 2008 for public comment. On Nov. 14, AWB will meet with L&I and labor representatives to discuss key concerns related to the heat stress rule and the next steps in the rule development process.  The meeting is at Comfort Inn in Tumwater from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. A conference call is also available. For more information, visit www.lni.wa.gov/safety/topics/AtoZ/heatstress or contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.