TOP STORIES
AWB’s Holiday Kids’ Tree Project raises record $25,000
Friday’s festive tree-lighting ceremony in the state Capitol officially marked the end of AWB’s record-setting 2009 Holiday Kids’ Tree Project. A record 147 AWB members and friends donated more than $25,000 this year, bringing the total raised since the event began in 1989 to nearly $300,000. AWB President Don Brunell and Gov. Chris Gregoire distributed the funds to firefighters from several rural departments in a ceremony shortly before the tree-lighting. The donations will used to buy toys and food for needy families identified by the fire officials. Fire districts in Grays Harbor, Mason, Lewis, Thurston, Spokane, Grant and Walla Walla counties received donations this year. In addition to cash donations, the Toysmith Group, an Auburn-based toy retailer, worked with the Toy Industry Foundation to provide $2,500 worth of toys. AWB board Chairman David Brukardt called the event “one of the best things we do each year.” Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch and view photos of the event online.


AWB Executive Committee meets with governor over budget
AWB’s Executive Committee met Wednesday with Gov. Gregoire to talk about the state’s estimated $2.6 billion budget and revenue shortfall. While tax increases are on the table, the governor asked for AWB’s help and input on resolving the issue. The governor clearly indicated that she does not want to harm business or families or the fragile economic recovery through taxes, but is not willing to make up the shortfall strictly through budget cuts. More specifics are expected Wednesday when Gregoire unveils her 2010 supplemental budget.


Gregoire to speak in Copenhagen at global climate summit
Gov. Gregoire and two staffers will travel to Denmark next week to attend the United Nations conference on global climate change, which began today and runs through Dec. 18. Gregoire’s chief of staff Jay Manning called the trip key to the state’s economic recovery and an opportunity to attract new business, but at least one state legislator questioned the timing, which reportedly required the governor to speed up the release of her supplemental budget, according to The Olympian newspaper. Gregoire is scheduled to speak Dec. 15 as part of a panel that includes California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and the premiers of British Columbia, Quebec and Manitoba, Canada. The Georgetown Climate Center and the Chicago nonprofit The Climate Registry are underwriting the trip for the governor.


EPA announces greenhouse gases pose a danger, clearing way to act without Congress
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced today that greenhouse gases are a danger that must be regulated, opening the door to the possibility that the agency could regulate emissions under the federal Clean Air Act. The announcement came on the opening day of the global climate change conference in Copenhagen, and was viewed as a way to boost U.S. arguments at the conference for a provisional target to reduce greenhouse gases. AWB prefers a federal approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions rather than a patchwork of state-by-state regulations, but Congress – not the EPA – is better suited to craft a solution that represents the interests of citizens nationwide in a way that minimizes harm to the fragile economy.


Governor unveils natural resources reforms, axes 17 boards and commissions
Gov. Gregoire and other state officials announced a plan Wednesday to transform how Washington’s natural resources programs are delivered. Among the major changes: creating “One Front Door” for the 98 separate environmental permits, licenses and approvals under environmental protection statutes; establishing a single set of regional boundaries for natural resources agencies with local field operations; coordinating scientific field monitoring and data protocols so a scientist doing field work for one agency can simultaneously collect data for another agency; and expanding the use of a single multi-agency permit team to cover all agencies’ environmental permits for major projects in a geographic area. Gregoire also took executive action eliminating 17 board and commissions and announced plans for legislation that would eliminate 78 more. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.


Job loss rate unexpectedly drops to 10 percent, lowest level since recession began
The nation’s jobless rate unexpectedly dropped to 10 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced last week. Employers lost 11,000 jobs in November, which is the lowest level since December 2007, the last month that the U.S. economy gained jobs. Average hours worked rose by two-tenths of a percentage point. Underutilization of the labor force fell from 17.5 percent to 17.2 percent.


Senators begin amending health-care bill amid increasingly contentious atmosphere
The U.S. Senate remained in session over the weekend as debate continued on a controversial $848 billion health-care overhaul package. Democrats are reportedly working on a compromise plan for a government-run insurance plan, while lawmakers from both parties continue offering amendments to the legislation. One amendment that did not pass was a measure from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., which would have blocked severe Medicare cuts. AWB and many other state and national business organizations have advocated for more reasoned health-care reform that reduces costs, improves access to care and capitalizes on private sector innovations that improve wellness while lowering costs. Unfortunately, the current legislative proposals in the House and Senate do neither, and we urge our members to contact Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and their House member to oppose the bills.


Two new legislators sworn into office
The Washington State House of Representative gained two new members last week – Rep. Susan Fagan, R-Pullman, and Rep. Terry Nealey, R-Dayton. Fagan, a former AWB board member, was elected in November to succeed Rep. Don Cox, R-Colfax, in the 9^th Legislative District. Nealey replaces Rep. Laura Grant-Herriot, D-Walla Walla, in the 16^th Legislative District.


AWB remembers the fallen
As you come into our building this week, you will notice a white poinsettia and a blue candle burning, part of AWB’s effort to remember the four Lakewood police and one Seattle police officer recently killed in the line of duty. Tomorrow, there will be a memorial in the Tacoma Dome for the four Lakewood Police Officers. Thousands of law enforcement personnel from across the nation and internationally will be present to honor their brothers and sister who were senselessly gunned down. The public has been asked to display blue lights in their windows this week as a tribute. AWB has strung its own lights as a show of support and will be making a contribution to the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, a fund that helps the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.


Nominations for Better Workplace Awards due this Friday, Dec. 11
AWB’s Better Workplace Awards honor companies that have gone the extra mile to create a better working environment in the areas of workplace safety, job training, advancement programs and innovative benefit and compensation programs. Have your company recognized for its accomplishments! Awards will be presented at our annual Legislative Day in Olympia on Feb. 3, 2010. For more information, contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello. There is still time to submit your nomination by Friday’s deadline.


KEY HEARINGS, MEETINGS
Sturdevant and Dicks at next Environmental Affairs Council meeting, Dec. 15
Department of Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant and Puget Sound Partnership Executive Director David Dicks will attend the next Environmental Affairs Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 9 a.m. – noon, at AWB. Draft legislation on greenhouse gas reporting, phasing out copper brake pads, agricultural burning and other topics will be discussed. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe or Grant Nelson.


GoGreen conference aimed at helping businesses become more sustainable
GoGreen ’10, a one-day sustainability conference next spring in Seattle, will feature more than 45 speakers and 12 different sessions aimed at helping business owners “go green.” Attendees will hear first-hand success stories and join in panel discussions offering turnkey solutions useful to any size business. AWB is a media partner for the conference and AWB members who attend will receive a discount; use the discount code “AWB” when registering. The conference is April 21 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Olive 8 at The Hyatt, 1635 8^th Ave., Seattle. To register online, visit GoGreen Seattle.


AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
Human Resources in 2010: A Washington State Legislative Forecast Webinar
Human resources is always one of the most volatile issues in the Washington State Legislature. Numerous new laws and regulations in the areas of discrimination, leaves of absence, immigration, unionization, employee benefits – to name a few – have been debated for years and are teed up for further action in the 2010 session. Join us on Thursday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m. for an up-to-the minute briefing on where these and other HR issues stand going into the January start of session. Register online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.


Still time to participate in AWB salary and benefits survey
AWB has partnered with WageAccess to provide you a survey that includes more than 900 benchmark positions in a wide variety of industries. This survey allows you to query, select and filter results by geographic location, industry and company size. The survey results also include a comprehensive set of descriptive statistics, compensation analysis tools and trends in salary and benefit administration. Sign up or learn more about the AWB survey here. If you have not yet participated in the survey, it's not too late. Since the survey results are updated quarterly, your data can still be included!


2010 Safety Academy
AWB has partnered with Sedgwick CMS to offer courses for safety and non-safety professionals who wish to increase their safety knowledge and effectiveness in developing and administering safety programs within their companies. Classes will be offered in Spokane, Seattle, Moses Lake and Olympia. You can find class listings and registration information online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello for additional information.


Forklift: Train the Trainer workshop – Thursday, Jan. 14
Proper forklift safety training will make your company a safer place to work — and keep you in compliance with the law. Attendees who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion, a CD of workshop materials and a PDF manual they can reproduce to train their own employees on proper forklift safety. Register online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.


THEY SAID IT
“I call on seniors to cut up their AARP cards and send them back to them!” – Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in response to the AARP’s opposition to his amendment to protect Medicare in the U.S. Senate health care bill


This Week's President's Perspective: No magic wand, only hard choices