TOP STORIES
Canada no example to follow on health care
From The Wall Street Journal: "In Canada, private-sector health care is growing.Dr. (Brian) Day (a Vancouver, B.C. orthopedic surgeon) estimates that 50,000 people are seen at private clinics every year in British Columbia.According to the New York Times, a private clinic opens at a rate of about one a week across the country (Canada).Public-private partnerships, once a taboo topic, are embraced by provincial governments.” AWB President Don Brunell questions whether this is something we want to emulate. “Perhaps the best option is for President Obama and Congress to slow down, look around carefully and build upon what is working and carefully fix what is not,” said Brunell. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch. For more information, contact AWB’s Donna Steward.


Congress considers paid sick leave and family leave mandates
Last week, the U.S. Congress held hearings on H.R. 2460, the Healthy Families Act, which mandates all but the smallest employers in the country provide up to seven paid sick days per year to employees, and H.R. 2339, the Family Income to Respond to Significant Transitions Act, which provides federal grants to states tofund paid family leave programs. This is on the heels of the House's recent passage of an act providing four weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees on leave to care for the birth or adoption of a new child. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AWB’s national affiliate, presented concerns with the federal legislation. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch. For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft.


Oregon may be first state to pass labor's gag rule bill
Organized labor's top legislative priority the last couple years — the inaptly titled and gratuitously unconstitutional Worker Privacy Act — failed to move in Washington this session. But the misguided measure is still alive in Oregon.The (Salem) Statesman Journal reports that the Oregon Senate passed a functionally identical version of Washington’s bill.Under the guise of protecting employees from forced communication about matters of political or religious belief, the law is designed to restrict effective employer-employee communication during labor organizing and collective bargaining campaigns.If the measure becomes law, Oregon will be the first state to adopt the full version of the national AFL-CIO model bill.Because ofthe bill'sdubious legality, however, a legal challenge would be a near certainty. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch. For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft.


AWB helping guide huge change for businesses that re-sell goods and services
Starting in January, businesses that purchase items or services for resale or wholesale must have a valid seller's permit in order to avoid paying sales tax. The system will replace the current resale certificate program. State officials estimate the change will bring in an additional $100 million in revenue. But it will mark a significant shift, affecting 56,000 retailers and 19,000 wholesalers in Washington. As part of a stakeholder group, AWB will work to make the transition as seamless as possible. Read more from the Department of Revenue. For more information, contact AWB’s Amber Carter.

WHO flu warning now at highest level
On Thursday, the World Health Organization declared its first flu pandemic in 41 years, raising the swine flu alert to its highest level. Washington state now ranks seventh in the nation in the number of confirmed H1N1 flu cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control. As of June 5, there were 577 confirmed cases in our state. (Wisconsin has the highest number of confirmed cases at 2,217.) According to Wendy Freitag, business liaison to the Washington State Emergency Management Division, this virus remains a serious public health issue for employers. Subscribe to our blog, visit our Web site, keep tabs via our Twitter account or check out our Facebook fan page for updates and ways you can get your business questions about the virus answered.


McMorris Rodgers: Hydropower is renewable energy
From U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane: “In light of a Portland judge’s recent ruling threatening our dams, we must do everything we can to protect them.Classifying hydropower as renewable is a step in the right direction.I recently wrote about thatjudge's decision in this Spokesman-Review column. … Right now, hydropower represents 75 percent of our country’s current renewable energy production.Hydropower currently produces 6 percent of our nation’s electricity.We could double our use of this clean, renewable resource without building a new dam.” Read more.


KEY HEARINGS, MEETINGS
McWilliams and Stark at next Health Care Committee meeting, June 23
The next meeting of the AWB Health Care Committee will be 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23 at AWB. Guests include Mary McWilliams from the Puget Sound Health Alliance, who will discuss the alliance’s work, and Dr. Roger Stark of the Washington Policy Center, who will provide an overview of the work to-date on federal health care reform initiatives.

Ecology Director Manning at next Climate Change Subcommittee meeting, July 7
AWB’s Climate Change Subcommittee will meet Tuesday, July 7, from 9–11 a.m., at AWB. Ecology Director Jay Manning will give details on the Department of Ecology plans to implement Gov. Chris Gregoire’s executive order on climate change. For more information, contact AWB’s Grant Nelson.


Draft industrial stormwater permit now available for review, comments
The Department of Ecology’s revised draft Industrial Stormwater General Permit is now available for review and public comment until Wednesday, July 15. Ecology program staff will present and field questions regarding the new permit at the next AWB Water Quality Committee meeting on Monday, June 22 from 1:30 – 30 p.m. in the large conference room at AWB. Ecology intends to issue the final ISWGP on Oct. 21. The draft permit, fact sheet, workshop schedule and other information is available online. For more information, contact AWB’s Grant Nelson.

OTHER NEWS
Order your copy of Washington – The Nature of Innovation
AWB is pleased to offer a beautiful new custom book, Washington – The Nature of Innovation, promoting the economic strengths that make Washington unique. Written by Pulitzer Prize–nominee Bob Condor, the book offers an insightful look at Washington’s storied arts and cultural scene, its universities and colleges, its recreation opportunities and professional sports, and the other lifestyle offerings that contribute to the state’s unbeatable quality of life. The book also discusses Washington’s diverse and robust industries and their impact on the state’s economy and features profiles of companies and organizations that have contributed to Washington’s economic development and success. The book is available for $49.50 for AWB members ($59.50 for non-members) and can be purchased online or by contacting Jennifer Costello or calling 800.521.9325.


Follow us on Twitter, Facebook
AWB recently launched a communications channel through Twitter, which allows us to post brief (140 characters) updates about AWB events, ask members quick questions, share breaking news and link to resources. Twitter is the third most popular social networking application on the Internet, right behind MySpace and Facebook. Learn more about the site and start following AWB on Twitter today. AWB also created its own fan page on Facebook, which provides updates on AWB events and posts on numerous issues. Come show your support for AWB by becoming a fan.


Don’t miss AWB’s new Member Spotlight
Be sure to check out the new AWB Member Spotlight, our online profile of the awards and achievements of AWB members. We’ve recently published stories on AWB members who won 2009 Seattle Wine Awards, Sterling Savings Bank and Blumenthal Uniform Company. If you have a good news story about your company, send it to AWB’s Paul Schlienz.
 

AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
Common HR Mistakes — And How to Avoid Them seminar on June 24
Don't let innocent mistakes become costly matters for your company! Whether the issue relates to pay practices, employee classification, discrimination or harassment, labor and employment laws are difficult to interpret and are constantly changing. The good news is that the most common mistakes can be easily avoided. Effective HR practices are at the core of prevention. Join us for this half-day seminar on Wednesday, June 24, at the Doubletree Guest Suites Seattle-Southcenter, in Tukwila. It which will help you create and implement best HR practices designed to prevent legal problems, and identify potential areas where your company may be vulnerable. To register, click here or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.


AWB 20^th Annual Policy Summit, Sept. 22-24 at Suncadia in Cle Elum
The 2009 AWB Policy Summit is designed to help reduce the uncertainty of today’s tumultuous economic times. We've assembled a team of national and local experts to chart a course through the turbulence, including pollster John Zogby and former presidential adviser David Gergen. Make plans now to be there. View additional information here. To register, contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello at 1.800.521.9325.


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. Be sure to identify yourself as an AWB member.


Washington Healthcare Week introduces students to health care careers
 Washington Healthcare Week is Washington Business Week’s leadership program designed to introduce high school students to the exciting career possibilities in the healthcare industry. For one week, students will learn about health care careers and explore topics in disease research, public health and work readiness in the context of a real world health care crisis. Washington Healthcare Week is open to any high school age student and can count for two college credits. This year’s weeklong sessions will be at Pacific Lutheran University and Gonzaga University. The cost for the entire week is $325, but financial assistance is available. Send an e-mail to request an application or call 800.686.6442.


THEY SAID IT
“Effective health-care reform must meet two objectives: 1) It must secure coverage for all Americans and 2) it must dramatically lower the cost of health care. Health-care spending has outpaced the rise in all other consumer spending by nearly a factor of three since 1980, increasing to 18 percent of GDP in 2009 from percent of GDP. This disturbing trend will not change regardless of who pays these costs — government or the private sector —unless we can find a way to improve the health of our citizens. Failure to do so will make American companies less competitive in the global marketplace, increase taxes, and undermine our economy.” - Safeway CEO Stephen A. Burd