State’s sales tax growth slowing - Belt tightening at state and local levels recommended
Washington’s Department of Revenue reports sales tax collections slowed down considerably in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the two previous years. In its report on the slowing, Washington CEO magazine said: "…two things are clear: Washington's economic growth has largely stalled; and state and local governments will have lots of belt-tightening to do during the next budget cycles.” Read more in AWB’s Olympia Business Watch blog.

 

More math ahead for Washington’s high school graduates
Rules adopted last week by the Washington State Board of Education would require all high school students to pass algebra II (or its equivalent offered through a career or technical program) to graduate, starting with the class of 2013 (this year's eighth-graders). AWB favors the change, which will further help ready students for success in today's workplace and college. The algebra II adoption is the first in a series of changes the board hopes to make, strengthening the number of credits in core academic classes required of Washington's high school graduates. Read more about these changes in AWB’s Olympia Business Watch blog. For more information, contact AWB’s Donna Steward at (360) 943-1600 or DonnaS@awb.org.

 

Energy Committee meeting on Aug. 1
AWB’s Energy Committee will meet on Friday, Aug. 1 from 10 a.m. to noon at AWB. Discussion will include possible changes to AWB Energy Policy Principles and continue discussing AWB’s legislative agenda and objectives for 2009-10. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

 

Energy solutions for Washington?
The latest polling from Moore Insight suggests Washington voters would rather see the state build a new oil refinery than build a nuclear power plant or drill for oil and gas off the state’s coast. The telephone survey found that of the three options, 64 percent favored a new refinery. In his analysis, Moore found the refinery idea polled better with men than women (+48 percent to +23 percent) and with those outside Seattle in the Kitsap/Pierce/Snohomish/Thurston county areas (-10 percent to +45 percent). Read more on this poll in AWB’s Olympia Business Watch blog.

 

Register now for the 19th Annual Policy Summit, Sept. 24-26 at Semiahmoo Resort
Given their significant impact on our economic vitality as a state, the upcoming elections will be the focus of the 2008 AWB Policy Summit. The highlight will be a debate on Thursday evening between the gubernatorial candidates, moderated by Seattle Times columnist David Postman. Debates for other key elected positions, including superintendent of public instruction, attorney general and public lands commissioner are also scheduled. For a full agenda and to register, click here. To make room reservations, call Semiahmoo Resort at (800) 770-7992 and reference the AWB room block.

 

Draft greenhouse gas cap and trade program design released
The Western Climate Initiative released its “Draft Design of the Regional Cap-and-Trade Program” document for public comment. Unlike earlier drafts, the WCI is now proposing to add gasoline and diesel to the cap and trade program and regulating these fuels where they first enter commerce in the state. Comments on the draft are due Aug. 13. Come learn more about the WCI cap and trade program and other related climate change efforts in the state at AWB's Climate Change Subcommittee meeting on Aug. 26 at AWB from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Visit WCI's Web site to download the draft. For more information, contact AWB's Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

 

Motorists would accept tolls as high as $6.85 for 520 bridge
Motorists who drive Highway 520 between Seattle and Medina would continue using it even if there was a toll as high as $6.85 on a new bridge, according to a new state study. The study discusses four scenarios: Two would toll only 520 — one beginning in 2010 and one in 2016 when a replacement bridge is complete. The other scenarios include tolling the I-90 bridge at the same rate in 2016. "The majority of the people stay on the bridge and pay the toll," said Charlie Howard, of the Puget Sound Regional Council, which released the study in conjunction with the Washington State Department of Transportation. Read the full story here.

 

AWB Education and Training Committee meeting Aug. 12, 10 a.m. to noon at AWB
For more information, contact AWB’s Donna Steward at (360) 943-1600 or DonnaS@awb.org.

 

Coming soon: AWB’s Elections Web site
AWB is putting the finishing touches on its 2008 election Web site — your guide to the fall issues and candidates. In addition to full candidate information, the site features everything you need to be informed before the Aug. 19 primary and Nov. 4 election dates. Be sure to check out our information on major ballot initiatives, links to other key election Web sites and a “Take Action” center where you can contact the candidates about the issues. Plus, you won’t want to miss our video interviews with the candidates themselves! And, of course, our complete list of AWB endorsed candidates. Look for it next week!

 

L&I issues draft guidelines on Brink’s company car issue
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has released a draft administrative policy explaining its interpretation of when employees must receive pay for commuting to and from work in company-provided vehicles, following the Washington Supreme Court’s controversial Brink’s Home Security decision. The policy is out for comment right now and will likely go into effect Aug. 15. When the policy goes into effect, AWB will post a summary and analysis online. In the meantime, for a copy of the draft, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

 

Health Care Committee meeting on Aug. 11
The AWB Health Care Committee will meet Aug. 11 from 9 to 11 a.m. at AWB. For more information, please contact AWB’s Donna Steward at (360) 943-1600 or DonnaS@awb.org.

 

Mark your calendars: Climate Change Subcommittee meeting on Aug. 26
AWB’s Climate Change Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at AWB from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Jay Manning, director of the Washington State Department of Ecology, and Juli Wilkerson, director of the  Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, will discuss the Western Climate Initiative’s design recommendations for a cap and trade program; the Climate Action Team’s greenhouse gas emissions action items; the greenhouse gas emission reporting rule; and other climate-related efforts, including possible legislation for 2009. DOE representatives Janice Adair, Ted Sturdevant and Tony Usibelli will also attend this meeting. For more information, contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

 

City council approves 20 cent grocery bag fees for Seattle
Following in the footsteps of San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Seattle City Council today approved a 20 cent fee on disposable grocery bags; the fees start Jan. 1. Under the bag fee plan, Seattle grocers will collect 20 cents for each paper or plastic bag used by a customer. Five cents would remain with larger stores to cover the fee’s administrative costs while smaller stores would keep the entire fee. The City of Seattle would provide at least one reusable bag to each household using $1.5 million of the projected annual $10 million in bag fee revenue. The council also voted to ban certain Styrofoam containers. Beginning in January, businesses that serve food will have to stop using foam containers (such as clamshell containers). A ban on foam trays for meat and seafood in grocery stores will take effect in July 2010. Read the full story here.

 

AWB Land Use Committee meets Aug. 13
The AWB Land Use Committee will meet on Wednesday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to  noon at Foster Pepper, 1111 3rd Ave., Ste. 3400, Seattle. On the agenda: Adoption of edited/updated AWB Land Use Policy Principles and further discussion and adoption of AWB Land Use Agenda and priorities for 2009-10. For more information, contact Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

 

July/August issue of Washington Business magazine coming soon
Watch your mailboxes for the July/August issue of Washington Business magazine! This issue looks at Washington’s important manufacturing sector and includes great articles like one on cap and trade climate change mitigation and how it might affect Washington’s economy.

 

Healthy Worksite Summit
As the direct and indirect costs of poor employee health continue to grow, employers must develop strategies and utilize tools to reverse this trend. The 22nd Annual Healthy Worksite Summit will help your organization develop new programs, revitalize an existing program and share best practices that will motivate and sustain a healthy and productive work environment. The summit is on Oct. 1-2 at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue and on Oct. 3 at the Deaconess Health & Education Center in Spokane. For more information, visit the Association of Washington Cities online.

 

AWB Annual Manufacturing Summit - What Washington Makes, Makes Washington
Join us Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Hilton Seattle Airport and Conference Center for a forum on manufacturing issues and ideas. Take part in developing the legislative, regulatory and economic agenda to help advance the interests and purpose of manufacturers in Washington state. Issues panels and discussions will include workforce training and development, tax and fiscal policy, economic development, health care and employment law and much more! Keep checking Upcoming Events at www.awb.org for more information.

 

AWB to hold regional board meetings in September
AWB’s annual round of regional board meetings are your chance to participate in the formation of our 2009 Legislative Agenda. Be sure to mark your region’s meeting on your calendar: Sept. 3 (Spokane), Sept. 4 (Kennewick), Sept. 5 (Moses Lake), Sept. 9 (Vancouver), Sept. 10 (Tacoma), Sept. 16 (Everett), and Sept. 17 (Bellevue). AWB will also conduct legislative candidate interviews following the board meetings. For more information, contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.