TOP STORIES
Health care bill approved by House committee, stage set for floor vote
A bill to overhaul the nation’s health care system moved out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week after U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the committee’s chairman, brokered a deal between liberal supporters of government health care and a group of conservative Democrats who were concerned about the costly nature of the health care bill. This sets the stage for a House floor vote in September, after the August congressional recess. If the legislation passes the House, it will move to the U.S. Senate where health care legislation is stalled and there is much opposition to a public option health care plan. Read more at Politico.com.


Your health is on the line
Last Thursday, the Washington Policy Center released a trio of videos exploring what's really at stake in the nation's health care debate. The first installment, “The Problem,” sets up the primary issues facing leaders as they seek to reform a system that accounts for 17 percent of our gross domestic product. Go here to view all three. Coincidentally, more than 1,500 businesses and chambers signed onto a letter to Congress sent Thursday by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The letter urges Congress to reconsider the current proposals and focus on three core issues: health care costs, insurance premiums and a marketplace of insurance options. More than 200 Washington state chambers and businesses, including AWB, lent their names to the letter. Only Minnesota and Texas had more signators. If you're interested in adding your company's name to the letter, you can still do so by clicking here. Also, it's worth checking out Fortune.com's list of the five freedoms you’d lose under the proposed health care reform. And yes, keeping your existing plan is one of them.


Poll shows the more people learn about health reform, the less they like it
A new poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press shows that public attention to the health care overhaul is growing, but support is not. The results, taken from a July 27 telephone survey, show that the public’s impression of the health care legislation before Congress is more negative than positive, with 44 percent saying the “generally oppose” it and 38 percent saying they “generally favor” it. Another 18 percent offered no opinion. Those who opposed the plan cited two main reasons: cost, and the extent of government involvement. Some other key findings:

· By a slim margin, the public trusts private insurance companies more than the government when it comes to deciding what kinds of medical procedures should be covered by health insurance (38 percent versus 32 percent);
· Among Independents, 36 percent say they trust private insurance companies more and 30 percent say the government;
· Nearly half (48 percent) of those with health insurance oppose the proposals, compared with only 30 percent of those who do not have insurance;
· Opposition rises to 56 percent among people who say they have heard a lot about the legislation. It rises to 70 percent among Independents who say they have heard a lot about it; and
· Concerns about the costs and increased government involvement in the health care system are volunteered most often by Americans who are critical of the health care proposals.


Washington state misses the mark in education innovation
Washington just flunked the school reform test. If a state passes the test, part of an initiative called “Race to the Top,” it is eligible for a share of $4.35 billion in federal education funding. To get this cash, states must embrace student-focused reforms including connecting student performance data to individual teachers, reward high performing areas, encourage the development of charter schools, and have a credible way of stepping in and fixing failing schools. Washington lags behind in all of these areas. Any chance of Washington getting a share of this federal funding in the next round depends on whether the state’s legislative leadership is willing to stand up to some of its most powerful constituencies, including teachers unions. Read more in The News Tribune.


Don’t miss “Saving Washington Aerospace” Summit on TVW
Sponsored by AWB, today’s aerospace summit – Saving Washington’s Aerospace – is a public discussion in which Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon and key aerospace leaders develop new strategies to help keep this vital industry in Washington. The summit is a must-see for anyone who cares about Washington’s economy. Included on the panel are Rosemary Brewster, president and CEO of Hobart Machined Products; Glenn Johnson, CFO and executive vice president of finance with Alaska Airlines; Stan Sorscher, legislative director for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace; and Fred Kiga, vice president of state and local government relations for The Boeing Co. The summit will be rebroadcast on TVW, Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m.

State Department of Revenue finalizes new Reseller Permit and Reseller Permit Application
Employers can expect a letter from the Department of Revenue in September describing the new program that goes into effect Jan. 1. A reseller’s permit will allow for the purchase of items for resale without paying sales tax. Employers will either be automatically issued a permit based on specified criteria or given directions on how to file an application to request a reseller permit. AWB is a part of a stakeholder advisory group that provides comments to the Department of Revenue as officials implement the new law. A number of changes have occurred in the proposed final permit and application as a result of our involvement, including clarifications on items purchased for dual use and preventing a requirement of listing items allowable for purchase and vendor information on the permit. Thank you to all of our members who shared concerns and provided comments.Your input is extremely valuable and has made the proposed final permit and application more usable for employers.AWB will continue our involvement in the DOR stakeholder advisory group and will remain vigilant in protecting employers who purchase or sell items for resale as DOR continues implementation.For more information, contact AWB’s Amber Carter.


Coming next month: AWB’s 2009 Regional Meetings
Next month, AWB will begin its 2009 Regional Meetings. Members and prospective members are invited to attend these free events. At each meeting, area legislators will lead an informal discussion of policy issues. AWB staff will then provide an overview of the 2010 legislative objectives. This is your chance to share your thoughts, ideas and suggestions with AWB. Your input will help our board of directors establish its legislative priorities at the 20th Annual AWB Policy Summit. The meetings are on Tuesday, Sept. 1 (Vancouver); Wednesday, Sept. 2 (Tri-Cities and Moses Lake); Thursday, Sept. 3 (Spokane and Yakima); Wednesday, Sept. 9 (Tacoma and Bellingham); and Thurs. Sept. 10 (Mountlake Terrace and Bellevue). To register for a meeting in your district, contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan.


Business Week needs judges!
Washington Business Week, the summer program designed to help high school students learn about free enterprise, is looking for businesspeople to serve as judges at the final camp of the summer. Judging will take place on Friday, Aug. 14 on the campus of Western Washington University in Bellingham. Volunteers will view and evaluate student groups as they present their progress in the operation of their fictitious business. Judges will also attend a trade show put on by student “companies” and invest “Business Week Bucks” to support a variety of new and exciting business ventures. To become a judge, contact Steve Hyer at Washington Business Week at 253.815.6900 for an application and further details.


KEY HEARINGS, MEETINGS
Aug. 5: Regulatory Reform Committee meeting
AWB’s Regulatory Reform Committee will meet Wednesday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m. noon at AWB. Gov. Chris Gregoire wants AWB’s assistance in identifying duplicative permitting and licensing processes at the state and local levels of government to identify ways to save state agencies money and reduce regulatory burdens on businesses. Members of the governor’s staff will be there to begin discussing ideas and recommendations in line with this goal. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.


AWB Energy Committee meeting, Aug. 10
AWB’s Energy Committee will meet on Monday, Aug. 10, 10 a.m. noon at AWB to discuss AWB’s energy legislative objectives for the 2010 Legislature, including continuing discussions on possible modifications to I-937’s renewable energy portfolio mandate. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.


Land Use Committee meets on Aug. 11
AWB’s Land Use Committee will meet on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 1 -- 3 p.m. at the law offices of Foster Pepper, PLLC, located at 1111 Third Avenue, Ste. 3400, Seattle. The committee will discuss AWB’s land use legislative objectives for 2010. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.


Save the Date: AWB Human Resource Council to meet Aug. 13
AWB’s Human Resource Council will hold its first 2009 meeting on Thursday, Aug. 13, 1:30 - ­­­3:30 p.m. at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront. The agenda will include important state and federal updates affecting HR as well as a report and planning for the 2010 legislative session. For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft.


OTHER NEWS
Department of Commerce wants business community’s feedback
Washington’s new Department of Commerce needs your input before it sends a report to Gov. Gregoire and the Legislature, including recommendations about the key functions that best fit the department’s mission and vision, by Nov. 1. Go here to take the department’s survey. If you have additional comments or ideas beyond the survey questions, send them to connect@commerce.wa.gov.


Don’t miss AWB’s new Member Spotlight: Insitu Inc.
Insitu, Inc., a thriving defense contractor in Bingen, now opening a new factory in Stevenson, is the focus of AWB’s Member Spotlight. We’ve also recently published stories on Apex Karting, Westshare Services and Pendleton Woolen Mills. If you have a good news story about your company, send it to AWB’s Paul Schlienz.


Hear AWB President Don Brunell every Thursday on KKOL-AM 1300
Make sure you’re tuned to Seattle’s KKOL-AM 1300 every Thursday morning at about 7:20 a.m. when AWB President Don Brunell discusses the business news of the day on Sound Business with Mike Siegel. (You can also listen online!)


Use Twitter to gear up for the 20^th Annual AWB Policy Summit
AWB has launched a new Twitter account dedicated to the Sept. 22-24 Policy Summit at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum. Follow www.twitter.com/AWBsummit before and during the summit to find out information and share your ideas. You can also join the regular discussion of business and politics by following AWB’s main Twitter account, and become a fan of AWB on Facebook!


AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
Employment Concerns in a Challenging Economy Webinar — Aug. 6
Today’s tough economy poses unique challenges for employers of all sizes and types. Join us for a 90-minute Webinar, on Thursday, Aug. 6, that will cover topics including properly handling terminations and layoffs, severance packages and agreements, unemployment insurance issues, and changes to COBRA continuation of health coverage. Register online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.


Successfully Navigating Leaves of Absence Laws Webinar — Aug. 19
A widening gap between state and federal leave requirements has further complicated the already cumbersome legal requirements for employers. This 90-minute Webinar, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, will benefit small businesses owners, HR professionals and managers of all kinds by providing a look at the latest developments in state and federal leave laws as well as potential strategies for dealing with them effectively. For additional information or to register, click here or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.


AWB’s 20^th Annual Policy Summit Sept. 22-24 at Suncadia Resort 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. Also, don’t miss keynote speaker Harrison Schmitt. The former Apollo astronaut was one of the last men to walk on the moon and will discuss the future of America’s space program as our featured speaker the evening of Sept. 22. To register, contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.


OSHA 10-hour certification course in DuPont Oct. 15-16
Get current on the latest in safety training and OSHA standards. Classes will be held both days from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the State Farm Education Center in DuPont. At completion of the course, you will receive an official course completion card from the U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA. This card will be useful during an inspection, as it demonstrates your efforts and commitment to voluntary compliance with all OSHA standards and regulations! Register online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.


THEY SAID IT
“Yet the congressional leadership has slammed the door on solutions to the one driver of waste that is relatively easy to fix: the erratic, expensive and time-consuming jury-by-jury malpractice system. Pilot projects could test whether this system should be replaced with expert health courts, but leaders who say they want to cut costs will not even consider them.” – Phillip K. Howard, chairman of Common Good, a nonprofit legal reform coalition, and a partner with the law firm Covington & Burling LLP, from The Washington Post 


This Week's President's Perspective: Bagless in Seattle?