TOP STORIES
State Supreme Court upholds Initiative 601 supermajority requirement for tax increases
Last week, the Washington State Supreme Court released its eagerly anticipated decision in the lawsuit Senate Majority Leader Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, brought against Lt. Governor Brad Owen. The suit attempted to invalidate the supermajority vote requirement of Initiative 601 for bills that raise taxes.In a unanimous opinion, the court refused to invalidate the very high bar for tax increases created by the initiative. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch.

AWB urging members to tell Congress “NO” on card check
Last week, President Obama sent a personal message to national union leaders gathered at a Miami resort that he remains committed to the so-called Employee Free Choice Act. If passed, the law would replace the secret ballot election in the workplace over whether or not to unionize. Union organizers could simply give workers a card and watch while they “check off” the column to unionize. AWB is joining the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers in urging Washington’s Congressional delegation to save the secret ballot and oppose this bill.


Governor signs state transportation stimulus package signed into law
After passage by the Legislature, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law the state’s transportation stimulus package, HB 1978, sponsored by Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island. AWB supports this package as a good first step toward creating jobs and developing the crucial infrastructure our state needs to grow the economy and keep Washington moving forward. For more information, contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600.


House and Senate committee cutoffs for policy and fiscal bills approaching
Today is day 57 of the 105-day legislative session. The clock is rapidly ticking as another legislative cutoff approaches: By Thursday, March 12, policy and fiscal bills impacting the state budget must be reported out of the House and Senate.


KEY HEARINGS, MEETINGS
Lobby Lunch No. 7: Raha gives a run down on the current economic crisis
Arun Raha, the state’s chief economist and executive director of the Washington State Economic Revenue and Forecast Council, gave last week’s Lobby Lunch attendees a rundown on the global economic downturn and how Washington state fits into the picture. According to Raha, Washington cannot export itself out of the crisis because the recession is global, affecting the state’s foreign trading partners. “We’re not going to get back to where we were in fiscal ’08 until fiscal ’11,” said Raha. View a PDF version of the full presentation here and listen to an exclusive AWB podcast interview with Raha here.


Ericksen and Pflug at AWB’s Lobby Lunch on March 12
The next Lobby Lunch will be this Thursday, March 12, beginning at noon at AWB. This week’s guests are Sen. Cheryl Pflug, R-Maple Valley, and Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale. Attendees should RSVP by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10. Individual lunches are $14. For more information, contact AWB’s Connie Grande at (360) 943-1600.


PRIORITY LEGISLATION
Sensible budget stabilization measure one step from Senate vote
AWB supports SJR 8209, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Zarelli, R-Ridgefield. This bipartisan effort is a common sense measure would require extraordinary revenue growth to be transferred to the budget stabilization account. Currently, this measure is in the Senate Rules Committee, awaiting floor action. For more information, contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600.


Senate ruling helps protect UI trust fund
On Saturday, the Senate acted on SSB 5809, sponsored by Sen. James Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, which would allow the state to divert unemployment insurance taxes paid to support community college enrollment slots.A procedural ruling was requested to evaluate whether the measure needed a two thirds majority to enact a new tax source to provide the enrollment slots.The ruling affirmed that since the purpose of the funds was to pay UI benefits and the intent to divert those dollars was for a purpose outside of the unemployment system, that a two thirds majority would be needed to move forward. This ruling is significant in that with a high trust fund balance, the fund is ripe for diversion to help the state address their budget woes.The ruling ensures that if any such attempt is made, a two thirds vote will be required for passage.Although AWB is highly supportive of workforce training and for the tremendous value and benefit of the community college system, we believe that the UI trust fund is not an appropriate source of funding for these enrollment slots. For more information, contact Donna Steward at (360) 943-1600.


Tell your legislators to oppose the employer gag rule bill
The employer gag rule bills, HB1528, sponsored by Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett, and SB 5446, sponsored by Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, moved out of their respective policy committees last week. You can view AWB’s opposing testimony here. Tell your legislators to oppose this violation of employers’ free speech rights! Your voice is needed to keep these bills from coming up for a House or Senate floor vote. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch and don’t miss the Seattle Times’ editorial in opposition to this awful legislation. For more information, contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600.


Urge the House to oppose GMA/climate change bill
An environmental community priority bill, SHB 1490, sponsored by Rep. Sharon Nelson, D-Maury Island, is now the on the House floor awaiting a vote. AWB is strongly opposed to this bill, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the local level by mandating land use and transportation requirements on local governments. This would place mandatory burdens on local governments and business, and the corresponding land use litigation and appeals that will result would stifle an already ailing housing and construction market. Contact your representatives in the House immediately and ask them to vote NO on SHB 1490. For more information, contact Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600.


Gov. Gregoire’s greenhouse gas bill now in House, Senate Rules Committees
Gov. Gregoire’s greenhouse gas legislation, HB 1819, sponsored by Rep. Dave Upthegrove, D-Des Moines, and SB 5735, sponsored by Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Bainbridge Island, are in their respective Rules committees. AWB anticipates that both bills will be voted on tomorrow or Wednesday, and continue to voice strong concerns over potential job losses and costs to businesses and consumers that would likely result from this legislation. AWB prefers national climate change solutions to regional and state efforts which will make Washington less competitive in relation to other states. For more information, contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600.


Misguided retro "reform" bill on verge of getting Senate floor vote
SB 6035, sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle — a bill imposing several new regulations on the workers' compensation retrospective ratings program — is one step from the Senate floor in the Senate Rules Committee. AWB opposes this bill as an unnecessary and regrettable politicization of a very successful workers' comp program. For background, analysis and a link to AWB's testimony, see AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch, and don’t miss the Seattle Times’ editorial on the issue. For more information, contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600.


AWB opposes brokered natural gas bill
HB1422, sponsored by Rep. Steve Conway, D-Tacoma, would impose brokered natural gas taxes at the location where the gas is burned by the taxpayer or stored in a facility of the taxpayer for later consumption. This change would apply both prospectively as well as retroactively. AWB opposes this bill because the proposed changes create administrative problems, lower state revenue, and shift revenue among cities. The retroactivity provision is also unconstitutional, and public utilities purchasing gas delivered within a city will pass on the tax increase customers as a hidden tax. HB 1422 is currently in the House Rules Committee, one step from a floor vote. For more information, contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600.


Workers’ comp reform bills die in committee but "ex parte" bill moves
Olympia Rep. Brendan Williams’ “ex parte” bill, HB 1402, the trial lawyer supported measure that would interfere with ongoing case management when a claim goes on appeal (and tilt the appeal in the claimant's favor) remains in the Senate Rules Committee, awaiting floor action. For more information, contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600.


Urge legislators to move AWB priority wellness legislation to a Senate floor vote
SB 6019, sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, which provides small employers with incentives to develop long-term wellness programs, is now in the Senate Rules Committee. Urge your senators to bring this important bill before the entire Senate for a vote! For more information, contact AWB’s Donna Steward at (360) 943-1600.


Asbestos liability bill is dead
Senate Democrats have killed SB 5964, sponsored by Rep. Joe McDermott, D-Seattle. The trial lawyer-supported bill that would have retroactively overturned two landmark 2008 Supreme Court cases in the area of asbestos liability has been scuttled in response to a series of attack ads that appeared in area newspapers last week. The bill would have also imposed a broad duty on manufacturers to warn of potential dangers not merely in their own products, but in the products of other manufacturers that may have contained or use asbestos. If passed, Washington would have been the only state in the nation where manufacturers could face products liability like this for products they didn't actually manufacture. For more information, contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600.


Controversial home construction warranty bill hits snag in Senate
SB 5895, sponsored by Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina, appears to be dead in the Senate. This trial lawyer-inspired home construction warranty bill would further damage Washington state’s depressed housing market by adding costs to construction. With our economy in perilous straits, this is no time to pass such destructive legislation. AWB worked hard to stop this measure and is pleased to see that it will likely go no further in the legislative process. For more information, contact Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600.


AWB-supported mercury light bulb disposal measure now awaits vote on House floor
HB 1799, sponsored by Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy, is a very reasonable mercury light bulb disposal bill that AWB wholeheartedly supports. It is now on the House floor, awaiting a vote. For more information, contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600.


Bill to waive penalties for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses heard in House
Last week, the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Affairs heard SB 5042, sponsored by Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor. AWB supports this measure which waives penalties for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses. For more information, contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600.


Health care transparency measure moves out of House
Last week, the House passed HB 1869, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Bailey, which would require all health care providers to disclose all fees and charges for health care to patients upon request. AWB supports this bill to bring greater transparency in health care. For more information, contact Donna Steward at (360) 943-1600.


Check JobMakers for the latest on legislation and how it affects the economy
Jobmakers.com is an excellent online database of legislation affecting the creation of jobs in Washington state. Visit today and find out what your lawmaker is doing to support economic development in our state. This site will be regularly updated throughout the 2009 legislative session.


AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
AWB holding issues briefings throughout the state
AWB President Don Brunell will continue his legislative briefings Tuesday, March 10 (Tacoma); Wednesday, March 11 (Spokane); Tuesday, March 24 (Redmond); Wednesday, March 25 (Mountlake Terrace and Seattle); and Wednesday, April 15 (DuPont). View the entire briefing schedule online or contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 to RSVP.


Check out the new WashACE Web site
Today, the Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy — better known as WashACE —launched its new Web site. It’s at the same address (http://www.washace.com/) and has excellent information about the current legislative session and key factors in keeping Washington’s economy competitive. Be sure to sign up for WashACE e-mail updates while you’re browsing around, too.


Mitigating 401(k) plan fiduciary liability workshop
Join us for this FREE two hour workshop exclusively for AWB members on Tuesday, March 24 at AWB. As an employer and sponsor of a 401(k) plan, your company shoulders a significant responsibility. Fiduciaries can be held personally responsible for the plans they oversee, making it critical that you take appropriate steps to reduce potential liability. This educational workshop will provide a best practices review and overview of ERISA fiduciary responsibilities that will help you optimize your company’s 401(k) plan. For additional details or to register, please click here or contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600.


Forklift: Train the Trainer workshop - Wednesday, March 25
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.


AWB Community Service Awards now accepting nominations!
We invite you to nominate your company or other AWB members who have made efforts to improve their communities. These important awards recognize our members’ volunteerism and contributions which make our communities better places to live and work. AWB will present its Community Service Awards at a special dinner held in conjunction with its Annual Spring Board Meeting in Spokane on May 19. Submit your applications before Friday, April 10. Download a nomination form or contact Jennifer Costello at (360) 943-1600.


THEY SAID IT
“I drive around, and when I see someone driving a new car, I give them a thumbs up. What else can I do?” Arun Raha, Washington state’s chief economist, on consumer confidence during last week’s AWB Lobby Lunch.