U.S. Chamber CEO to Keynote AWB Spring Meeting in Spokane – Sign up Today
Don’t miss AWB’s Spring Meeting & Community Service Awards presentation at Spokane’s Davenport Hotel, May 22-23. Tom Donahue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is our dinner keynote speaker on Tuesday evening. To register, contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org, or log onto www.awb.org/events/MayBoard.asp.

Terry Bergeson, Judy Schurke Speaking at Spring Meeting Next Week – Plan to Attend
With all of the legislative attention surrounding the WASL, Dr. Terry Bergeson will address education and the WASL at AWB’s Annual Spring Meeting in Spokane on May 22-23.  She will be the breakfast keynote speaker on May 23.  New L&I Director Judy Schurke will speak during the morning session on May 23.  L&I is charged with implementing the new paid family leave bill. You will have ample opportunity to question them on issues pertaining to their agencies.  AWB members are invited to attend the dinner and meeting. To register, contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org, or log onto www.awb.org/events/MayBoard.asp.

AWB Staff to Provide Legislative Wrap-Up at Spokane Meeting – Register Today
AWB’s governmental affairs staff will provide a round-up of the 2007 legislative session.  This is your opportunity to learn about the good, the bad and the kicked ahead. Gary Chandler, our vice president of governmental affairs, will moderate the panel. This is your opportunity to ask them questions. To register, contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org, or log onto www.awb.org/events/MayBoard.asp.

Pollster John Zogby to Speak at Policy Summit – Sees Major Realignment in 2008 Election
At AWB’s Policy Summit (Sept. 19-21) at Semiahmoo, you will hear pollster and political handicapper John Zogby. He is one of our keynoter speakers. Zogby is not only entertaining and informative, but deadly accurate. He believes 2008 will be a landscape-changing election much like the 1932 election of Franklin Roosevelt which brought the Great Depression to an end and the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan following the Iran hostage crisis. Zogby’s numbers show 73 percent of Americans believe our country is going the wrong direction. Zogby sees America as spinning in two parallel universes. One is Washington, DC, where there is partisan rancor and bickering - a place where civility has collapsed and politicians genuinely don’t like one another. The other is the rest of America where people expect our elected officials to set aside their petty differences and political maneuvering and work together for the common good. They want elected officials to air their differences, but in a collegial, cordial way that solves problems.

Search for Puget Sound Partnership Executive Director Begins
With the recent creation of the new Puget Sound Partnership state agency and the appointment of former EPA head Bill Ruckelshaus as chair of the citizens’ leadership council, the Partnership is now searching for an executive director. If you are interested in this position, see www.dop.wa.gov/JobSeekers/ESS for a job description and application information. Contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

Governor Decries Overuse of Emergency Clauses
Gov. Gregoire has been using her veto pen to remove inappropriate emergency clauses from bills passed by the Legislature. So far she has done this to six bills. According to the governor, “An emergency clause is used when immediate enactment of a bill is necessary to preserve the public peace, health, or safety or when it is necessary for state government. It should be used sparingly because its application has the effect of limiting citizens’ right to referendum.”  

May 16 Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee Meeting Cancelled – Next Meeting June 27
Due to scheduling conflicts, there will be no Tax and Fiscal Policy Council meeting on May 16. The next TFPC meeting will be June 27 in Seattle, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.  Contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

New Jersey Family Leave Plan in the Works 
Now that Washington and California are the two states with paid family leave, New Jersey’s Legislature is working on a bill which would allow every employee in the state to take 12 weeks of paid leave off every year.  An increase in the employee’s share of Temporary Disability Insurance, a payroll tax that applies to all employers and workers, would pay for the program. Under the proposal, workers could access up to $488 per week and their TDI fund assessments would go from 45 cents to $2.75 per week. 

Dept. of Revenue Wants Your Comments
The Dept. of Revenue is seeking input on agency requested legislation for the 2008 session.  Because it is a 60-day session next year, we expect only a limited agenda to emerge. Proposals should be critical, time sensitive and fit within the governor’s and Dept. of Revenue priorities. See www.governor.wa.gov/priorities/default.asp for the governor’s priorities.  The priorities for the Dept. of Revenue are 1) Public accountability, 2) Simple and cost-effective ways for businesses to pay taxes, 3) Helping businesses understand their tax obligations, 4) Openness and accessibility to taxpayers, 5) Building relationships that instill trust, 6) Provide information on effective tax policies for the future, and 7) Understanding changing needs of business in a global economy. This process was very successful last year and resulted in the agency adopting several AWB priorities in their request package. If you have recommendations that you would like DOR to consider including in its legislative package for 2008, please let us know by May 23. Contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

L&I Plans to File Emergency Heat Stress Rule – Offers Heat-Related Illness Courses
L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) plans to file the emergency rule on heat stress injuries on June 5. The draft language, along with helpful tools designed to identify heat-related illness and protect employees and other information is available at www.lni.wa.gov/safety/topics/atoz/heatstress/default.asp. Contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org. In addition, employers may learn about protecting employees from heat-related illness at courses from L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety. Courses are scheduled for May 16 (Tumwater) and May 22 (Bremerton). Participants will receive copies of the presentation they can pass on to their employees or members. If you are interested in attending either of these courses, or scheduling a course in another location, please contact Sharon Drozdowsky at (360) 902-4622 or DroS235@lni.wa.gov.

Ohio Pioneers New Venue for Lawsuits Against Business
In Ohio, there is a new way of suing business.  Contingency-fee attorneys are encouraging municipal governments to recast product liability claims as public nuisance claims which have a less-stringent liability standard.  The initial target of this litigation is paint companies.  Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann recently consolidated municipal lawsuits against paint manufacturers into a class action claiming lead-based paints caused a public nuisance. The paint and pigment manufacturers developed voluntary standards to take lead out of paint many years ago and support lead-poisoning prevention efforts. Now the Ohio Legislature is dealing with the issue. Hopefully, this new wave of litigation won’t roll into Washington.

Forklift Safety: Train the Trainer Workshop on June 6
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! To register, please visit www.awb.org/events/forkliftsafety.asp. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferC@awb.org.

GAC Retreat on June 20 & 21 – Register & 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. You may register now online at www.awb.org/events/gac.asp. Reserve your room by calling (800) 622-9370 – there are block of rooms are under AWB. Contact AWB’s Shannon Garland at (360) 943-1600 or ShannonG@awb.org.