TOP STORIES
U.S. Senate retreats from August deadline for health care bill action
It looks like Congress will
not approve the comprehensive health care reform legislation supported by President Obama before the August recess — the president’s deadline for action on the bill.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said, “It's better to get a product that's based on quality and thoughtfulness than on trying to just get something through.” Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives,
there is an impasse between a group of conservative Democrats who are holding the legislation in committee due to concerns over the bill’s high costs and the House leadership, which still wants to rush it through. Stay tuned. Read more on AWB’s blog,
Olympia Business Watch. For more information, contact AWB’s
Donna Steward.
CBO deals new blow to health plan
For the second time this month,
congressional budget analysts have dealt a blow to the Democrat's health reform efforts, this time by saying a plan touted by the White House as crucial to paying for the bill would actually save almost no money over 10 years. A key House chairman and moderate House Democrats on Tuesday agreed to a White House-backed proposal that would give an outside panel the power to make cuts to government-financed health care programs. White House Budget Director Peter Orszag declared the plan "probably the most important piece that can be added" to the House's health care reform legislation. But on Saturday, the Congressional Budget Office said the proposal to give an independent panel the power to keep Medicare spending in check would only save about $2 billion over 10 years — a drop in the bucket compared to the bill's $1 trillion price tag.
Gregoire warns 2011 budget situation will be worse than today
Washington and other states are struggling to keep ahead of revenue drops, and next year’s budget situation does not look any better. Gov. Chris Gregoire told
Stateline.org last week that contemplating the 2011 budget keeps her "awake at night." Gregoire fears the recovery will be slow and that potentially there will be no federal stimulus dollars.
So-called Worker Privacy Act invalid according to Washington attorney general
One of the most hotly contested pieces of legislation in the 2009 session was the so-called Worker Privacy Act, organized labor's top priority and a gag rule to prohibit employers from engaging inlegitimate, federally protectedcommunications with employees about labororganizing and collective bargaining.It deservedly failed last session. Then on Wednesday, Attorney General Rob McKenna's released a
formal opinion that this employer gag rule is pre-empted by federal law.If Washington’s Legislature were to pass it,
a court would likely reject it. For more information, contact AWB’s
Kris Tefft.
New laws now in effect
A whole slew of new laws took effect Sunday. Among them:
Public breastfeeding is now a civil right under the state's Law Against Discrimination; the so-called
"everything but marriage" law regarding the rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners is also official, affecting family leave, employee benefits and workers' compensation. Another new law
effectively abolishes the employee-only restroomin retail establishments. Read more on AWB’s blog,
Olympia Business Watch or contact AWB’s
Kris Tefft.
AWB discusses immigration reform with Homeland Security secretary
AWB participated in a roundtable discussion today with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano on the prospects for comprehensive immigration reform. AWB’s immigration reform coalition, Immigration Works Washington, met last week and is developing its core principles and outreach to legislators and members of Congress on
our legislative objective of comprehensive immigration reform.For more information, contact AWB’s
Kris Tefft.
Apollo 17 astronaut to launch Policy Summit
Dr. Harrison H. "Jack" Schmitt, one of two astronauts to last walk on the moon, will launch AWB's 20th Annual Policy Summit on Sept. 22.Best known as the first “scientist astronaut,” Schmitt was chosen to walk on the moon with
Apollo 17 in 1972. Schmitt will be the dinner speaker on Sept. 22 at the Suncadia Resort.Visit the
AWB Web site for registration and program information, or contact AWB’s
Jennifer Davis.
Welcome to new AWB Institute Director Grant Gilmore
AWB is pleased to welcome
Grant Gilmore to its team. Grant will lead the AWB Institute, relying on his extensive experience in the manufacturing sector. He has been involved in operational cost controls, management labor relations and quality assurance efforts and has experience as a production manager, site manager and general manager. Grant was most recently with the
Thurston County Economic Development Council, where he served as director of the
Northwest Manufacturers’ Alliance.
KEY HEARINGS, MEETINGS
Focus group meetings on worker training in transportation, distribution and warehousing industries
Focus group meetings are being held to get employer input in developing worker training programs for warehousing, distribution and transportation at
Tacoma Community College,
Yakima Valley Community College and
Lower Columbia Community College. Meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, July 28 (Tacoma); Wednesday, July 29 (Yakima); and Thursday, July 30 (Longview/Kelso). For more information, contact
Mike Hudson with the
AWB Institute.
Aug. 5: Regulatory Reform Committee meeting
AWB’s Regulatory Reform Committee will meet Wednesday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m. – noon at AWB. Gov. 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.
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
Washington Business wins again
AWB’s award-winning magazine,
Washington Business, was awarded both silver and honorable mention awards in the Magnum Opus competition as judged by the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. Congratulations to AWB Government Affairs Director Kris Tefft who earned silver recognition for his legal essay on the Kittitas Wind Project (
pg. 37, Nov./Dec. 2008 issue).AWB received three honorable mentions: Best CEO/Exec Letter – From the Publisher, Best Special Topic/Issue –
The Green Economy, and Best Feature Article – “The Gold in … Smokestacks” (
pg. 28, July/Aug. 2008). In the six years since the Magnum Opus Awards competition began,
Washington Business was honored each year.Watch for our summer issue, including our 2009 Legislative Review, in your mailbox next month!
Don’t miss AWB’s new Member Spotlight: Apex Karting
Looking for a new location for your next meeting or teambuilding exercise? Be sure to check out Tumwater’s
Apex Karting, the latest feature in AWB’s Member Spotlight. See for yourself just how much fun you can have on four wheels and
still get your meeting accomplished! We’ve also recently published stories on
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
Don’t miss AWB President Don Brunell discussing the business news of the day every Thursday morning at 7 a.m. on Sound Business with Mike Siegel, broadcast on Seattle’s
KKOL-AM 1300. (You can also
listen online!)
AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
New business tax e-filing law: Are you in compliance?
Businesses who report taxes monthly must now file and pay their returns electronically, beginning with the July 2009 return due on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Join us on Tuesday, July 28 for a 60-minute Webinar to learn the benefits of e-filing.
Register online or contact AWB’s
Jennifer Costello.
Hot deals on AWB publications during our July sale!
AWB members can take 20 percent off their purchase of all human resources guides and handbooks during our July publications sale. These manuals are useful tools to help employers prevent problems in the HR area. All guides are Washington specific (covering state and federal laws), written in plain English, include checklists, sample policies or forms and fully indexed so you can find the answers you’re seeking quickly and easily. For a complete listing of publications and prices,
click here. To order, contact AWB’s
Jennifer Costello and be sure to mention the
Fast Facts discount!
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 20th 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 the as our featured speaker the evening of Sept. 22. To register, contact AWB’s
Jennifer Costello.
THEY SAID IT
“Since Medicare was established in 1965, access to care has enabled older Americans to avoid becoming disabled and to travel and live independently instead of languishing in nursing homes. But legislation now being rushed through Congress — H.R. 3200 and the Senate Health Committee Bill — will reduce access to care, pressure the elderly to end their lives prematurely, and doom baby boomers to painful later years.” —
Former New York Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey, Wall Street Journal This Week's President's Perspective: Are we passing on the opportunities that made America great?
