TOP STORIES
Last Chance to Register for AWB’s 20^th Annual Policy Summit Sept. 22-24 at Suncadia Resort
Are you registered for Policy Summit? It’s almost here. This year, we've assembled a powerful lineup of national and local speakers, including pollster John Zogby, former presidential adviser David Gergen and former astronaut and U.S. Sen. Harrison Schmitt. You will also hear from Gov. Chris Gregoire, Rogers Weed, the state’s new Director of Commerce, and some of the state’s top legislative leaders. Plus, don’t miss your chance to play one of Washington’s premiere golf courses — Suncadia’s Prospector course — at significantly reduced prices. Register online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.


Travel advisory
Expect slowdowns while traveling on Interstate 90 to the Policy Summit from the west as crews replace several miles of deteriorating concrete panels between Snoqualmie Summit and Cle Elum. One possible alternate route is Highway 2 through Stevens Pass.


Follow AWB’s Policy Summit on Twitter!
You can follow www.twitter.com/AWBsummit before and during the summit to ask questions and discuss the issues.


L&I proposes 7.6% rate increase—AWB wants key workers’ comp reforms to stem cost increases
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) proposed a 7.6 percent rate increase in workers’ compensation taxes for 2010. AWB believes this underscores the need for Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Legislature to make some fundamental changes to our state’s workers’ compensation system when it convenes in Olympia next January. “In this difficult economic climate, any rate increase is a problem for struggling employers,” said AWB President Don Brunell. In a press release issued after today’s announcement, Brunell said some common-sense reforms L&I and the Legislature should pursue next session include creating a settlement option for complex or long-term claims as an alternative to pensions. Washington is one of six states that doesn’t allow final settlement agreements.

Recession over, but recovery slow, according to state economist
The Great Recession of 2007-2009 is almost certainly over, both in Washington state and the nation, Dr. Arun Raha, Washington's chief economist said Thursday. But the recovery will be slow, and there remains a risk of a "double-dip" recession if consumer confidence does not improve, Raha said. "At some point, private spending is what drives the economy," Raha said during a meeting of the state Economic & Revenue Forecast Council. "Public spending can't drive it forever." The latest forecast predicts state revenue will fall $238 million, a decline that Raha characterized as "relatively modest." Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch.

Gov. Gregoire acts wisely on Columbia, Snake River plan
The Obama administration finalized a $40.5 million deal Wednesday with Gov. Chris Gregoire to improve salmon habitat on the Washington side of the Columbia River. It came a day after the administration submitted a new plan to guide the operation of hydroelectric dams and fish conservations programs on the Columbia and Snake rivers. “Gov. Gregoire has consistently supported moving on with fish restoration and river management. Getting the issues out of the courtroom and into the stream is important for fish and people,” AWB President Don Brunell said. Oregon received no funding because Gov. Ted Kulongoski is suing the federal government over the plan.Read more.


H1N1 flu vaccine coming soon– AWB members need to stay informed
More than 3 million doses of flu vaccine will be available by early October, federal officials announced last week. That’s a little earlier than anticipated, but most of those doses will be in the form of a nasal spray that’s not recommended for pregnant women, people over 50 and those with asthma, heart disease or other problems. AWB, which represented the business community at Gov. Gregoire’s H1N1 summit, is working with the state’s Emergency Management Division to keep business informed on this important public health issue. A survey conducted by AWB found that most businesses are not fully prepared for a mass outbreak, and many people believe the flu threat is overhyped, Dick Walter, AWB’s vice president of operations told summit attendees. You can view responses to AWB’s survey of businesses on this issue here. Check AWB’s Web site and blog, Olympia Business Watch, for other updates this fall and winter, too. Dick Walter is AWB’s contact.


Baucus unveils controversial Senate health care bill
Last week, U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., unveiled sweeping health care reform legislation with no support from Republicans and plenty of detractors among his own party. The bill includes an expensive individual mandate and insurance co-ops in place of the controversial public option in the House legislation. The future of this bill is highly uncertain. In the meantime, AWB is taking leadership role in bringing together 21 state chambers and employer groups involved in Employers for Quality Health Care, a coalition working to get employers involved directly in the national health-care debate, and to promote a market-oriented alternative to government-dominated health care.


KEY HEARINGS/MEETINGS
Dept. of Commerce to hold public hearings on GMA Administrative Guidelines Update
The Department of Commerce is holding a series of public meetings on changes to its rules for providing local governments with guidance on Growth Management Act compliance and implementation. The meetings will be held: Wednesday, Sept. 30 in Moses Lake from 9 – 10:30 a.m. at Big Bend Community College, ATEC Building; Thursday, Oct. 1 in Olympia from 9 – 10:30 a.m. at General Administration Building, Auditorium; and Friday, Oct. 2 in Everett 9 – 10:30 a.m. at Everett Community College, Whitehorse Hall. E-mail your comments or mail them to Washington State Department of Commerce, Growth Management Services, Attn: WAC Update, 906 Columbia St. SW, Olympia, WA 98504-2525. Click here for more information and to view the proposed changes. The Department of Commerce will accept comments on the proposed rule through Friday, Oct. 2.


OTHER NEWS
Businesses must prepare now for potential Green River flooding
Because of damage to the Howard Hanson Dam, there is a potential this year for major flooding in the heavily populated Green River Valley in south King County. AWB President Don Brunell has been meeting with the governor’s staff to find ways to address this most serious issue, and the state’s Emergency Management Division is offering a Green River Valley Flooding Emergency Preparedness Symposium Wednesday from 5 – 7 p.m., at the ShoWare Center, 625 West James St., Kent. If you own a business in the valley, you’ll want to attend.


Apply now for Best Companies for Hourly Workers list
Register now for the Best Companies for Hourly Workers list. Corporate Voices for Working Families and Working Mother magazine will honor companies dedicated to creating and using best practices to support hourly workers. Applications will be accepted until Friday, Oct. 16. Winners will be highlighted in the Working Mother 2010 issue. Any company with a minimum of 500 employees in the United States, 50 percent of whom are nonexempt, may apply.


Are you ready to reopen if your business experiences an unexpected event?
Don’t miss “A Roadmap to Business Resiliency,” a free Webinar for small businesses on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1 – 2:30 p.m. With speakers from the Washington Military Department Emergency Management Division, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Small Business Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, this Webinar will provide a roadmap for businesses on where to invest time and effort with the goal of being able to “bounce back” from a variety of unexpected events that might impact their business. Be sure to register early!


Don’t miss TVW’s very informative education documentary
Want to learn more about education funding and reform in Washington? Tune in to TVW’s 90-minute documentary, The Quest for Quality: The Debate Over Education Reform & Funding, showing in two parts at 8 p.m., Wednesday and 8 p.m., Thursday. Viewers will learn more about the changes to education funding made by the Legislature this past year. It also looks ahead to the next 10 years and includes an array of viewpoints on how the state should move forward with reform efforts. Click here for more information and to watch a preview.


State needs your input reforming natural resource management
Washington state natural resource agency directors, along with policy and budget staff for Gov. Chris Gregoire and Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, offered state elected officials, tribes, the public, businesses, agency employees, and local governments a set of ideas for reforming the state’s natural resource management. Their ideas are found in Ideas to Improve Management of Washington’s Natural Resources. Comments may be submitted through Wednesday, Oct. 28. Members of the business community are strongly encouraged to share their thoughts.


AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
2009 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.


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 regulation. At the completion of this course you will be able to help your employees identify, avoid, prevent and control hazardous situations in the workplace. Register online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.


Developing Issues in Workers’ Comp Webinar, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m.
Workers’ comp premiums in our state are paid by the hour and in this economy, reported hours are way down. And in this volatile market, trust fund reserves are down. Yet Washington continues to offer some of the highest workers’ comp benefits in the country. Where will this lead? Join us for a 60-minute Webinar on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 10 a.m., to look at the economic and benefit issues that will drive next year’s workers’ comp premiums and the top reform issues employers are expected to seek in the Legislature to keep our workers’ comp costs under control. Visit the AWB Web site for more information or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.


Understanding the Resale Certificate Webinar
Effective Jan. 1, the resale certificate will be replaced with a reseller permit issued by the Washington State Department of Revenue. Reseller permits are free and will be issued to businesses that make wholesale purchases, including qualified contractors. The permits allow businesses to purchase items or services for resale without paying retail sales tax. Join us on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 10 a.m., for this 60 minute webinar to learn what a permit is, how to get a reseller permit and receive answers to all of your questions and concerns of the process. Register online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.


THEY SAID IT
“We are greatly concerned that burdensome new taxes and fees aimed at insurers and other healthcare industry stakeholders would severely undermine the reforms that the chairman’s mark aims to achieve. These unprecedented new taxes would make coverage much less affordable for individuals, their families, and employers.” – Scott P. Serota, president and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, on the U.S. Senate health care plan


This Week's President's Perspective: Record salmon runs should prompt approval of management plan