Governor’s cap and trade bill to be introduced this week
Based on draft language to date, AWB remains deeply concerned about the governor’s climate change legislation. The bill would place a cap on companies’ emissions and would require 100 percent auctioning of carbon credits in a process known as cap and trade. AWB believes the legislation comes at the wrong time, given the potential costs to consumers and businesses and loss of jobs across all sectors of the economy. The administration will brief AWB members this Wednesday, Jan. 28, on a revised version of the legislation. The AWB Climate Change Subcommittee is also scheduled to meet on Thursday, January 29, at 1 p.m. to discuss the revised draft of the legislation and AWB’s next steps. A hearing on the governor’s cap and trade bill has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m.-noon in the House Ecology & Parks Committee. Members will be requested to review the revised bill and provide testimony. For more information, contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600.


Effort to link Growth Management Act with climate change back again
For the second consecutive year, the environmental advocacy group Futurewise is backing legislation that would, among many other things, open the goals of the Growth Management Act to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the local level. HB 1490, sponsored by Rep. Sharon Nelson, D-Maury Island, amends the goals of the GMA to require integration of land use and transportation patterns to meet the state’s greenhouse gas reduction mandates established last year. The state is also working on cap and trade legislation (see above) to meet these standards. AWB opposed this local-level approach last year because of significant concerns that this effort will lead to endless GMA land use appeals. HB 1490 is scheduled for hearing in the House Local Government Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 8 a.m. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe or (360) 943-1600.


AWB opposes bill that dips into UI trust fund to create stimulus package
Last Wednesday, AWB President Don Brunell sent a letter to Gov. Chris Gregoire regarding her proposal to draw down the unemployment insurance trust fund, 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. The legislation, SB 5319, sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, has now been introduced to accomplish this goal. With the state experiencing its biggest one-month jump in unemployment in 30 years, AWB is urging legislators to protect the state UI trust fund. “We only have to look around the nation to see where unemployment trusts are draining rapidly and some states, like California, will have to borrow from the federal government just to pay laid-off workers the benefits they have earned,” said AWB President Don Brunell. Click here to read more.


Anti-employer union neutrality bills introduced; likely to be heard next week
Legislation referred to as the Worker Privacy Act was introduced last week in the House (HB1528, sponsored by Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett) and Senate (SB 5446, sponsored by Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Renton). Billed as organized labor’s top legislative priority, the legislation would prohibit “required” employer communications with employees on political, religious and union issues and back up the prohibition with the threat of lawsuits and punitive damages.The political and religious provisions are vague, impact employers’ free speech rights and duplicate existing anti-discrimination protections. The union provision violates federal labor law.Either way, these bills send a strong anti-business message to Washington’s employer community.AWB is encouraging lawmakers, in the midst of an economic crisis, not to waste their time and taxpayer money on this “anti-stimulus” package.Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch. For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600.


Dorn announces end of WASL and outlines plans for new assessment test
Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn unveiled his plans last week for a new state assessment system. The new testing would begin in the spring of 2010 and would replace the Washington Assessment of Student Learning with the Measurements of Student Progress in grades three through eight and the High School Proficiency Exams. Dorn proposes renaming the state assessment system the Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program. In comparison to the WASL, Dorn believes the new tests will be shorter, utilize computers, require less time for written responses, return scores more quickly and minimize costs. For more information, contact AWB’s Donna Steward at (360) 943-1600.


Senate considering belt-tightening measures
There are plenty of signs in Washington’s Senate that the state is facing hard times. SB 5460, sponsored by Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina, reduces the administrative budget for legislative and judicial agencies by 4.4 percent, freezes salaries for exempt and management-level state employees, extends the state hiring freeze, freezes state equipment purchases over $1,000, and freezes travel and training not directly related to services, saving $105 million in the 2007-09 biennium. Meanwhile, Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver, is developing legislation to eliminate, suspend, consolidate or make self-sustaining more than 100 boards, commissions, task forces and study groups. For more information, contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600.


Brown and Moore discuss state budget crisis at first 2009 Lobby Lunch
Gov. Gregoire’s legislative director, Marty Brown, and her budget director, Victor Moore, were AWB’s first Lobby Lunch guests for 2009. Last Thursday, Brown and Moore updated AWB members on the legislative landscape and the dire economic circumstances facing budget writers this year. “It’s way different than 1982, it’s way different than the 90s and it’s different than the crash after 9-1-1, so it’s tough,” said Brown, who believes the current economic situation is likely the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930s. While Moore expects the federal government to come through with a funding package, he’s telling legislators that they should focus on preserving programs rather than enacting new ones. “Everybody’s going to pay in this budget,” said Moore. Speaking of tax increases, “I’d be flabbergasted if a tax proposal wasn’t on the ballot,” said Moore.


Kessler and Morris at AWB’s Lobby Lunch on Jan. 29
The next Lobby Lunch will be this Thursday, Jan. 29, beginning at noon at AWB.Joining us are House Majority Leader Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, and Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Mount Vernon. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP by 5 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 27. Individual lunches are $14. For more information, contact Connie Grande at (360) 943-1600.


HB 1609 introduced to expand Paid Family Leave and institute new payroll tax
Earlier today, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle, introduced HB 1609, which expands the state’s as-yet unfunded and unimplemented Paid Family Leave program to contain additional reasons for taking paid leave, and institutes a funding mechanism for the program by taxing employees two cents per hour worked. The proposal calls for sending the payroll tax provision to the voters for approval or rejection.A Senate companion version is expected later this week.Rather than expand a program that has never been implemented, AWB believes a more responsible move in a recession is to repeal this unfunded mandate entirely, which would be accomplished by passing either HB 1160, sponsored by Rep. Cary Condotta, R-East Wenatchee, or SB 5558, sponsored by Sen. Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake.Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch. For more information, contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600.


AWB supports sensible changes in property tax notice requirements
AWB supports and testified in favor of HB 1056, 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 Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600.


Drug disposal bill would level expensive mandates on manufacturers
Last week, AWB testified in opposition to HB 1165, sponsored by Rep. Dawn Morrell, D-Puyallup. The bill would force manufacturers to take back unused pharmaceuticals. Now is not the time to slap expensive regulations on pharmaceutical manufacturers, especially in view of very successful voluntary efforts such as Safe Drug Disposal Northwest, designed to educate the public on the need to safely dispose of medicines and keep them out of the hands of children. AWB strongly supports these efforts, but heavy-handed and expensive government mandates such as those proposed by HB 1165 are the wrong approach. For more information, contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600.


Governor requests federal disaster area declaration in nine counties
Gov. Gregoire asked President Barack Obama to declare a federal disaster area in nine Washington counties impacted by flooding, mudslides and avalanches caused by severe weather earlier this month. Gregoire requested federal assistance for Clark, King, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties. Damage surveys are continuing this week and the results are expected to add several counties to the disaster declaration request. Preliminary damage surveys conducted last week in the nine counties revealed 102 homes destroyed and another 2,340 homes with minor to major damage. In addition, there was significant damage to the agricultural community, as well as damage to several community water systems and many county roads. This disaster request seeks federal assistance from the Individuals and Households Program. The governor also requested crisis counseling assistance and training, disaster unemployment assistance and U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans.


Watch out for flood-related scams
The Office of the Attorney General is warning about schemes targeting Washington residents whose homes were damaged by recent floods. Things to look out for include possible identity theft scams by criminals who claim to be government employees and ask for personal information, unregistered contractors who charge exorbitant fees or do shoddy work, and drivers or car dealers who attempt to sell flood-damaged cars.


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.


Register now for AWB’s Legislative Reception and Annual Issues Briefing
Gov. Gregoire will deliver the keynote address and Attorney General Rob McKenna will be the luncheon speaker at AWB’s Legislative Reception at 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.


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.


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: Legislators wasting their time and our money pushing unconstitutional gag rule