Governor announces new stimulus package that dips into UI trust fund
Last Thursday, Gov. Chris Gregoire unveiled “Washington Jobs Now,” a new stimulus plan that would draw down the unemployment insurance trust fund to temporarily increase UI benefits by $45 per week, temporarily reduce UI taxes for all of 2009 and expand access to the Training Benefits Program and the Shared-Work Program. Drawing from the trust fund, however, remains a grave concern for AWB, which wants to avoid the terrible example of California and keep our fund solvent. Hear AWB President Don Brunell’s response to the package in a podcast on AWB’s new media center. For more information, contact AWB’s Donna Steward at (360) 943-1600.


Manufacturers urge state to retain important sales tax exemption
Manufacturing companies from around the state gathered in Olympia last week to urge lawmakers to retain the machinery and equipment sales tax exemption that allows them to expand their businesses, hire new employees and develop new products. The discussion was part of a briefing held by AWB on the status of manufacturing in Washington. “The Department of Revenue believes the M&E exemption has a valuable role to play in our economy and recognizes that it adds jobs and attracts businesses,” said Leslie Cushman, deputy director of the Department of Revenue. Click here to read more or download AWB’s report on this issue. For more information, contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600.


Kaiser Aluminum, Bogert International honored as Manufacturers of the Year
AWB is pleased to honor Kaiser Aluminum in Spokane and Bogert International in Pasco as the winners of the 2009 Large and Small Manufacturers of the Year Awards. The awards honor member manufacturers for their innovations, contributions to their communities and commitments to their employees. “We are proud of the work these companies are doing and want to congratulate the employees in both organizations for their hard work and dedication,” said AWB President Don Brunell. “A strong manufacturing sector is essential to providing family-wage jobs and attracting investments in Washington state.” Read the full press release here.


AWB holding issues briefings throughout the state
AWB President Don Brunell is holding a series of briefings around the state to discuss the budget shortfall and other challenges facing lawmakers this winter. Meetings will be held Wednesday, Feb. 18 (Yakima and Tri-Cities); Thursday, Feb. 19 (Walla Walla and Moses Lake); Friday, Feb. 27 (Vancouver); Tuesday, Mar. 10 (Tacoma); Wednesday, March 11 (Spokane); Tuesday, March 24 (Redmond); Wednesday, March 25 (Mountlake Terrace and Seattle); and Wednesday, April 15 (DuPont). For more information click here or to RSVP, contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600.


Cox sworn in as new 9th district state representative
Members of the House of Representatives welcomed a familiar face today: Rep. Don Cox, R-Colfax. Cox was chosen from a field of three finalists to succeed the late Rep. Steve Hailey, who died Dec. 28. Cox, who served in the House from 1999-2007, has talked with caucus leaders to discuss committee assignments, which could include appointments to the House Education, Education Appropriations, and Transportation committees.


Washington Supreme Court to hear important wage-and-hour case
The Washington Supreme Court will hear oral arguments tomorrow, Jan. 20, in Morgan v. Kingen, a wage-and-hour caseexploring the rules under which a company’s owners or officersmay be held personally liable fordamagesin a wage-payment case where the company is legally prevented from paying its employees on time— in this case, due to bankruptcy. In this economy, the issue could become important for corporate owners and officers.AWB led acoalition of eight other statewide business organizationsin filing a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the employer’s concerns. For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600.


Tuesday is “HR Day on the Hill”
Tomorrow, more than 100 human resource professionals from around the state will gather for the fifth annual “HR Day on the Hill,” jointly sponsored by AWB and the Washington chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.Attendees willmeet with legislators and hear about important workplace topics. They will also receivelegislative and regulatorybriefings from AWBissue experts and state agency representatives.The event takes place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Columbia Room of the Legislative Building. For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600.


Senate Majority Leader Brown will meet with Governmental Affairs Council
Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, will meet with the business lobby every two weeks. The first meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the Senate Democrat Caucus Room at 3:30 p.m. For more information, contact AWB’s Connie Grande at (360) 943-1600.


AWB members vote “no” on climate change cap and trade bill
Members of AWB’s Climate Change Subcommittee met last week to discuss cap and trade legislation authored by the Gregoire administration. Members voiced their strong concerns regarding the bill, in particular a 100 percent auctioning of carbon credits, the costs to consumers and businesses in the state in tough economic times and the potential loss of jobs across all sectors of the economy. Subcommittee members voted unanimously for AWB to oppose the bill and continue working with the governor and state agencies on climate change policy that won’t put our state at a competitive disadvantage. The Washington Public Utility Districts Association has also taken a strong position in opposition to the bill. For more information, contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600.


‘No’ to bill that would do little for developing new energy sources and raise energy rates
Today, AWB testified against HB 1133, sponsored by Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip. The bill would make Initiative 937 — the voter-approved measure requiring utilities to increase their use of “renewable” energy — even worse by increasing the amount of “renewable” energy each utility must use from 15 percent to 20 percent by 2025 without the addition of any meaningful new energy. AWB is strongly in favor of clean, renewable energy — including hydropower — but we oppose burdensome measures that will only raise energy costs. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600.


Bill to end Paid Family Leave introduced
Last week, Rep. Cary Condotta, R-East Wenatchee, introduced HB 1160 to repeal the state’s troubled Paid Family Leave program.This bill promotes AWB’s Legislative Objective on paid family leave by ending an unnecessary program with no funding source. Washington already has at least four leave laws on thebooks that touch upon time off, and even paid time off, for family and medical reasons.The key isto make better use of existing leave laws, and support and incentivize employers’ efforts to help employees when the need for paid time off arises. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch. For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600.


Homeowner warranty bill back again
A bad bill from last session has returned. House Bill 1045, introduced by Rep. Brendan Williams, D-Olympia, would require new residential home construction warranties. AWB opposes new statutory warranties as an unnecessary increase of home builders’ liability. This bill could also unnecessarily increase the affordability of homes while not providing homeowners with any real protection. We opposed this bill last session and intend to do the same this year. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600.


RFID bills unnecessary and burdensome to business
Last Tuesday, AWB testified against three bills related to radio frequency identification microchips sponsored by Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Mount Vernon. RFID is a tracking technology used by many businesses to decrease theft, inventory products and ensure a high level of product safety, among other uses. HB 1006, HB 1011 and HB 1044 would create costly and cumbersome new labeling, notification and standards unique to Washington. After many hours of negotiation last session, AWB supported RFID legislation that made it a class-C felony to scan an RFID device for the purposes of fraud, identity theft or other illegal purposes. For more information, contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600.


AWB supports sensible changes in property tax notice requirements
AWB testified in favor of HB 1092, sponsored by Rep. Dean Takko, D-Longview, which would revise notice requirements for changes in property tax valuations to no longer reflect land and improvement values separately beginning in 2010. The bill would put counties on an annual cycle of evaluating property — a sensible idea. For more information, contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600.


AWB opposes changing vesting laws
Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, has introduced SB 5148 to change Washington’s real property vesting laws. Currently, a landowner’s development rights vest upon submission of a completed application for a building or subdivision permit. AWB continues to oppose changes to Washington’s vesting laws and will closely monitor any movement of this bill. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600.


Comments submitted to L&I on draft domestic violence leave rules
This week, AWB will submit comments to the Department of Labor & Industries on its draft rules to implement 2008’s Substitute House Bill 2602, which mandates a “reasonable period of leave” from work, with job protection and continuation of health insurance benefits, for employees who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. The law did not define what constitutes a “reasonable” amount of leave, yet imposes stiff penalties on employers. AWB believes it is important for L&I to clearly define employer and employee obligations as part of their rulemaking process.For more information or a copy of the draft rules or comments,contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600.


Get in compliance for 2009!
Washington’s minimum wage has increased from $8.07 to $8.55 per hour. Additional significant changes have been made to the required state and federal employment posters as well — click here to view the other changes. Order your updated poster set today to ensure your company is in complete compliance with Washington state and federal labor law posting requirements. To order an updated state and federal poster set, contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600.


AWB Tax and Fiscal Policy Council meeting Jan. 21
The AWB Tax and Fiscal Policy Council will meet Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 9:30-noon at AWB. For more information, contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600.


Victor Moore and Marty Brown at AWB’s Lobby Lunch on Jan. 22
The first Lobby Lunch of the year will be this Thursday, Jan. 22, beginning at noon at AWB.Joining us for our first lunch are Victor Moore, director of the Office of Financial Management, and Marty Brown, legislative director for Gov. Gregoire. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP by 5 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 20. Individual lunches are $14.


School management expert to speak at Washington Policy Center luncheon Jan. 22
On Thursday, Jan. 22, AWB is co-presenting the Washington Policy Center’s kickoff event for the WPC Education Center. The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Harbor Club, 801 2nd Ave., 17th floor, Seattle. The event will feature Prof. Bill Ouchi of UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, who will speak on the topic of public school reform (“Reversing the Decline of Public Schools: How Putting the Principal in Charge Helps Students Learn”). Click here for more information or to register.


Perpetuating the family business
AWB worked with Laird Norton Tyee on its 2008 Northwest Family Business survey.As a follow-up, Laird Norton Tyee is bringing John Ward of the Kellogg School of Management atNorthwestern University to Seattle on Jan. 22 to discuss the challenges, opportunities and best practices for creating family business continuity. If you are interested in attending the Ward presentation or in receiving information on the survey, contact Meryn Shetye at (206) 464-5294.


Register now for AWB’s Legislative Reception and Annual Issues Briefing
AWB’s Legislative Reception is coming to the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia on Wednesday, Feb. 11. This event is one of your best opportunities to network with other AWB members, elected officials and agency directors. It’s also a great chance to enhance your company’s visibility through a sponsorship. To register or become a sponsor, click here or contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600.


Emergency planning and disaster management seminar Feb. 19 — is your business prepared?
Emergencies and disasters often strike when we least expect them. The best measure that all of us can take is to be prepared. Attend AWB’s one-day seminar and learn how to prepare and apply survival plans to any type of disaster.For more information, click here or contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600.


This week’s President’s Perspective: When good is never good enough