TOP STORIES
Senate health-care bill goes to the floor
The U.S. Senate voted Saturday to bring an $848 billion health-care overhaul package to the floor for debate. The party-line 60-39 vote — supported by Democrats and opposed by Republicans — advances the measure introduced Wednesday by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., but the legislation faces an uncertain future, including an array of amendments that could dramatically alter any final agreement. AWB believes there is a better solution to what ails America’s health-care system. A government takeover of heath care falls short of addressing the real issues at stake: skyrocketing costs, reforming the insurance system and providing more choice. Instead, the House and Senate bills will add trillions to the national debt, leave more than 24 million uninsured and ignore real cost-control measures like lawsuit reform. Contact your Congressional representative today and tell them there’s still time to find the right solution to health care.


House Health-Care reforms stand at $1.2 trillion
In the House, members are awaiting Senate action so they can begin to reconcile their differences — which are vast. On Nov.3, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., barely rounded-up enough votes to pass her 1,990 page, $1.2 trillion health care reform bill. (She needed 218 to pass the bill and got 220.) Washington Democrats Jay Inslee, Rick Larsen, Adam Smith, Jim McDermott and Norm Dicks joined Pelosi in voting for the legislation while Democrat Brian Baird joined Republicans Doc Hastings, Dave Reichert and Cathy McMorris Rodgers opposing the measure. AWB and many other state and national business organizations have advocated for more reasoned health-care reform — an effort that reduces costs, improves access to care and capitalizes on private sector innovations that improve wellness while reducing costs (see, for example, our blog post on the Safeway Healthy Measures program). Unfortunately, the current legislative proposals in House and Senate do neither, and we urge our members to contact Senators Murray and Cantwell and their House member to oppose the bills.


Fix the Economy First
Speaking to the Northgate Chamber of Commerce and Lynnwood Rotary Club last week, AWB President Don C. Brunell said that while the recession shows signs of bottoming out, there are storm clouds on the horizon that could disrupt the recovery. Passing hugely expensive new federal and state programs and increasing taxes only sets us farther behind, Brunell concluded."It is a healthy private sector which will lead us back to lasting recovery and add the jobs we need today and for our children and grandchildren."


State lowers revenue forecast $760 million, raising budget woes
The latest revenue forecast for Washington's 2009-11 biennium has fallen by $760 million since September. Officials now expect to collect $28.8 billion, an estimate driven down largely by a "crisis of confidence" that has consumers continuing to pay down debt and save money rather than spend it, according to Arun Raha, the state’s chief economist. The news means that lawmakers must now find a way to fill a $2.6 billion shortfall when the 2010 Legislature convenes — up from a previously estimated $2 billion shortfall. Gov. Chris Gregoire will release her supplemental budget the week of Dec. 7, about two weeks earlier than usual, according to The Olympian’s Brad Shannon. The early release is viewed as a response to the growing state budget deficit, prompting Gregoire and majority Democrats in the Legislature to signal a willingness to look at tax increases. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch.


The issue is jobs, jobs, jobs
The U.S. needs about 20 million new jobs over the next decade, including 7 million just to recover what's been lost in the current recession. Creating those jobs is at the heart of the U.S. Chamber's new American Free Enterprise. Dream Big campaign, along with its 20 Million Jobs Challenge. (In Washington state, that means about 415,000 jobs are needed to make up for jobs recently lost. Click here to see the interactive map.) The campaign is an effort to "go back to the basics" and focus on what made free enterprise so great. That means supporting private sector initiatives, job creation and innovation in areas like clean energy technology. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch.


Tsunami of global warming litigation hitting with hurricane force
Two recent U.S. Court of Appeals decisions may herald a new wave of litigation for damages arising from greenhouse gas emissions. Companies across a growing number of industries are being threatened by lawsuitsalleging that their emissions of greenhouse gases are contributing to global warming. In the course of resolving those lawsuits, courts are likely to make judgments thatCongress and regulatorsmight normally be expected to make. The dangerous trend is more toward private plaintiffs seeking monetary relief for damages allegedly caused by global warming (e.g., stronger hurricane storms, rising tides, melting snow cap, etc.), rather than states and municipalities seeking to reduce a company's future greenhouse gas emissions.Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch.


Holidays a little brighter with AWB’s Holiday Kids’ Tree Project
This Christmas is shaping up to be tougher than usual for families who cannot provide gifts and food for their children, particularly in rural areas. That’s why AWB is again partnering with firefighters in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason and Thurston counties to provide donations to families in need for its Holiday Kids’ Tree Project. Donations from this project are the often only funds fire departments and emergency responders receive to help families during the holiday season. Amazingly, this year’s donations have exceeded expectations during these hard economic times. Still, we need more. Make a donation online or contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600. And be sure to join us in the Capitol Rotunda at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, for the official tree-lighting ceremony with Gov. Gregoire. It’s a great event for families — and Santa will even be there!


AWB honored for highest market share of any state chamber
The Association of State Chamber Professionals recently recognized AWB for having the highest market share of any state chamber. This award is based on the total number of eligible business within Washington that are AWB members. Over the last five years, AWB has won more awards in this category than any other chamber of comparable size. For more information on AWB membership, contact Sean Heiner.


AWB now accepting nominations for Better Workplace Awards
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! Click here to download the nomination form. Awards will be presented at our annual Legislative Day in Olympia on Feb. 3, 2010. For more information, contact Jennifer Costello. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, Dec. 11, 2009.


OTHER NEWS
Don Brunell Scholarships application deadline extended to Dec. 1
The application deadline for the Don Brunell Scholarship for Future Business Leaders is being extended until Dec. 1. The scholarship was established to inspire and aid Washington’s future business leaders. It is awarded annually and targeted to undergraduate, graduate or career/vocational students currently pursuing or who intend to pursue a course of education that will lead to a degree or certification in business from any public or private university, community or technical college, or private career school. The scholarship is $1,500 per recipient; $2,000 if the recipient has attended Washington Business Week. For more information, contact AWB’s Mike Hudson.


Calling for nominations and applications for 2010 DREAM BIGSmall Business of the Year Award
The U.S. Chamber’sDREAM BIGAwards programcelebrates entrepreneurs and small business owners who have followed their dreams and contributed to the vibrancy of American free enterprise. Nomination and application forms for the,sponsored by Sam's Club^®,are now available. Nominations are due Friday, Dec. 18 and applications are due Friday, Jan. 15.


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 over 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, January 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 Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600.


THEY SAID IT
"Today’s revenue forecast once again demonstrates that our budget condition continues to decline. It is essential to point out that if we take responsible action right away, we can get our state’s fiscal health back on track.” —Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor


This Week's President's Perspective: It’s all about jobs