TOP STORIES
Baird announces retirement from Congress
Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, who represents a large southwestern Washington congressional district stretching from the Pacific coast to the Cascades and from the Columbia River to the Puget Sound, announced on Wednesday that he will not run for re-election in 2010. The surprise announcement came weeks after Baird bucked House leadership and voted against the House version of the Obama-supported health care. Baird’s retirement from his 3^rd Congressional District seat after nearly 10 years in the House, has created a wide open race that has already attracted a number of candidates.


Unemployment insurance tax rate goes up to 2.38 percent in 2010
Unfortunately, unemployment insurance tax rates will rise in 2010 for many employers due to their own layoffs and the significant disparity between benefits paid and taxes collected in 2009. Last week, the Employment Security Department began mailing 2010 tax-rate notices to more than 150,000 Washington businesses. The average tax rate in 2010 will be 2.38 percent, up from 1.55 percent in 2009 – but still lower than rates during the last economic recovery in 2004 (2.81 percent) and 2005 (2.78 percent), and equal to the 2006 average rate. The 2010 tax rates will range from 0.95 percent to 6 percent.


Senate health care bill compromise expands Medicare to anyone 55 or over
The U.S. Senate continued working on the controversial $848 billion health-care overhaul package. The latest version, billed as a compromise, drops the public option, but allows anyone age 55 or over to join Medicare, thus expanding a program that is already in serious financial trouble. The Senate leadership hopes to have the bill approved before Christmas, but Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., cast doubt on that goal by announcing over the weekend that he would not vote for the bill in its current form. AWB has 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.


Who are the real fat cats? Federal employees average $30,000 more than private sector salaries
According to USA Today, the number of federal workers earning six-figure salaries has expanded dramatically during the recession. Federal employees with $100,000-plus salaries spiked from 14 to 19 percent of civil servants during the first 18 months of the recession- and this was before overtime pay and bonuses are counted. Meanwhile, 7.3 million private sector jobs have disappeared in the recession.


Northwest Embroidery raises $21,640 for families of slain police officers
In a show of support for the families of the four slain Lakewood officers, Milton-based Northwest Embroidery, an AWB member since 1991, raised $21,640 by designing and selling a line of caps with the slogan “Lakewood Police 11-29-2009.” “You can send people flowers. You can pray for them, but if you give someone money, that sticks, and those officers’ families are going to need cash,” said Jim Mickelson, the company’s CEO. It was one of many fund-raisers for the officers’ families, which include a combined nine children. AWB will be making a donation to Behind the Badge Foundation, an organization that helps the families of officers killed in the line of duty. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch.


Happy Holidays from AWB!
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or simply the beautiful winter season, AWB wishes you and your loved ones wonderful, joyous holidays. This will be the last issue of Fast Facts for 2009. Also, please note that AWB will be closed Thursday, Dec. 24 – Friday, Dec. 25, and on Friday, Jan. 1, 2010. Fast Facts will resume publication on Monday, Jan. 4.


KEY HEARINGS, MEETINGS
Sturdevant and Dicks at next Environmental Affairs Council meeting, tomorrow
Department of Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant and Puget Sound Partnership Executive Director David Dicks will attend the next Environmental Affairs Council meeting tomorrow, 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.


Land Use Committee meets this Wednesday
The AWB Land Use Committee will meet on Wednesday, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., at Foster Pepper, PLLC, 1111 Third Avenue, Suite 3400, Seattle. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.


Gov. Gregoire to speak at AWB’s Legislative Day, Feb. 3
Just confirmed – Gov. Chris Gregoire will speak at AWB’s Legislative Day, on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Olympia’s Red Lion Hotel. Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet Washington’s legislators on a face-to-face basis and to attend informative panel discussions on the issues that matter most to Washington’s business community. For more information, contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.


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.


OTHER NEWS
Remember – child support reporting is the law
By law employers must report all newly hired workers and respond tochild supportwithholdingnotices.Help is available from the Washington State Division of Child Support.You can now report this important information online or by phone at 800.591.2760. Thank you for doing your part to get child support to our state's children.


AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
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.


Get in compliance for 2010!
Significant changes have been made to the required state and federal employment posters in 2009- click here for a list of poster changes. Pre-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.


Register now for AWB’s Legislative Reception and Annual Issues Briefing
Join us for AWB’s Legislative Day at the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia on Wednesday, Feb. 3. 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.


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.


AWB Members save up to 26 percent on UPS shipping!
AWB and UPS have partnered on a new program to help save members time and money. With discounts on UPS Next Day Air^®, UPS Worldwide Express^SM and UPS 2nd Day Air A.M^®, you can save up to 26 percent on shipping costs! Find out how to take advantage of these savings today by calling 800.325.7000 or click here to enroll in the program to begin receiving discounted rates!. Be sure to identify yourself as an AWB member.


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!


THEY SAID IT
“Congress should not just resist this executive overreaching, but trump it: Amend existing clean air laws and restore their original intent by excluding CO2 from EPA control and reserving that power for Congress and future legislation. Do it now. Do it soon. Because Big Brother isn't lurking in CIA cloak. He's knocking on your door, smiling under an EPA cap.” – Charles Krauthammer, on the EPA’s ruling allowing itself to regulate greenhouse gases


This Week's President's Perspective: Senate health care proposal: Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic