TOP STORIES
DON’T FORGET: TOMORROW IS ELECTION DAY! Your vote is crucial! Mail in your ballots now!
Election Day is tomorrow, and you need to be part of it. Thirty-eight of Washington’s 39 counties vote entirely by mail; Pierce County still maintains poll sites as an option. Fill out you ballots and mail them now. If your ballot is not in the mail by tomorrow, it will not be counted. With so many important issues to be decided, you can’t afford to sit this election out. The unions are pouring millions into this election, and the only way employers can have a say is if they get out the vote. Your vote can help push Washington state’s economic policies in a positive direction by defeating Initiative 1098 (income tax) and passing Initiative 1082 (workers' comp) and Initiative1053 (2/3rds vote to raise taxes) are among the most important issues this fall. Be sure to check out AWB’s complete list of endorsements before casting your vote. And for you iPhone users out there, don’t forget to download the Secretary of State’s new election results app to track election night returns.


Attorney General’s Office takes action against Democratic campaign consultant Moxie Media
Attorney General Rob McKenna’s office filed a lawsuit Friday against Moxie Media, the Democratic consulting firm accused of orchestrating a complicated scheme to hide the source of campaign contributions that helped defeat incumbent state Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett, in the August primary. Court documents allege that Moxie Media owner Lisa MacLean worked with liberal political organizations, including the Washington Federation State Employees, on the plan to defeat Berkey, a moderate, and help the more liberal Democratic candidate, Nick Harper. The case, which includes multiple alleged violations of campaign financial disclosure law, is being closely watched by the state’s political observers and could ultimately lead to a new election, according to Phil Talmadge, the former state senator and Supreme Court justice who is representing Berkey.


Vote YES on I-1053: Now more than ever, the Legislature needs limits
Initiative 1053 will bring back the two-thirds majority requirement for the Legislature to raise taxes. This is needed now more than ever as lawmakers will face a daunting budget gap in 2011. With I-1053 in place, the Legislature will be forced to reduce expenditures and cut waste rather than resorting to new taxes. This is exactly the kind of fiscal policy Washington needs, and I-1053 will help get us there. A new KING 5 poll shows 55 percent of voters support I-1053, but the only way this necessary measure will become law is if you vote YES and mail your ballot. Follow Yes on I-1053 on Facebook and Twitter.


Defeat I-1098! No state income tax!
Initiative 1098 would bring a state income tax to Washington, threatening the health of our current businesses and erasing one of our key competitive advantages in recruiting new business. The proposal would initially apply only individuals earning more than $200,000 per year, and couples earning more than $400,000, but it could easily be expanded by the Legislature in two years’ time. If you care about creating an environment in Washington where business will thrive and expand, vote NO on I-1098. According to the latest KCTS-TV poll, 54 percent of Washington voters oppose I-1098, but it can only be stopped if employers get out the vote by filling out and mailing in their ballots. Follow the campaign to Defeat 1098 on Facebook and Twitter.


Reduce workers’ comp costs, vote YES on I-1082
Initiative 1082 would end the state monopoly on workers’ compensation insurance and help rescue a system that’s headed toward insolvency. Be sure to vote YES. The current mandatory state-run workers' compensation insurance is expensive and is getting more expensive with every year. Looking across the country, where 46 states allow private insurance carriers into the system, rates are going down or holding steady. Competition drives efficiency. I-1082 would offer some immediate tax relief to employees who often pay a portion of their workers' comp insurance premium at the moment but would no longer do so if I-1082 is approved. Follow the I-1082 campaign on Facebook and Twitter.


End the taxes on food and beverages: Vote Yes on 1107
Initiative 1107 will repeal the new taxes the Legislature imposed earlier this year on candy, soda, bottled water and other items. The taxes hurt Washington food producers, bottlers and grocers – and consumers who end up paying higher grocery bills. Let’s help keep taxes out of our grocery carts! Vote Yes on 1107.


AWB welcomes State Supreme Court’s water rights ruling
Last week, the Washington State Supreme unanimously upheld changes the Legislature made in 2003 to state’s Municipal Water Law clarifying that developers may retain water rights for future use. AWB welcomes the court’s decision as one that provides more certainty for developers and those who rely on municipal water for economic development. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.


Department of Ecology seeking to expand Children’s Safe Products Act, prior to rule implementation
Last week, the Department of Ecology released a revised version of legislation that expands the Children’s Safe Products Act (CSPA). Although slightly improved from their previous draft, AWB believes that the bill is premature and unnecessary. Instead, our members are advocating that Ecology first implement rules, which are now available for public comment, and then make future policy and reporting changes based on implementation issues that may arise. AWB is encouraging the Office of Financial Management not to approve Ecology moving forward with the legislation. For more information, including a copy of the draft legislation and to participate in the development of AWB’s comment letter on the proposed rule, contact AWB’s Grant Nelson.


Comment period on SEPA greenhouse gas proposal runs through Nov. 17
The state Department of Ecology is moving forward with its plan to use the State Environmental Policy Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While AWB believes the current plan, which proposes creating a toolbox of information resources, is a significant improvement over earlier proposals, SEPA, designed to address local environmental impacts, is not an appropriate tool for greenhouse gas reduction. The draft working paper was released last week and a public comment period runs through Friday, Nov. 17. AWB is still reviewing the working paper. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.


Mark your calendars: AWB Legislative Reception & Lobby Day in Olympia, Feb. 3-4
Make plans now to talk with your lawmakers about the issues affecting you as an employer in our state. On Feb. 3, AWB will host its annual legislative briefing and reception at Olympia’s Red Lion Hotel. Then on Feb. 4, take the opportunity to meet with your lawmakers on the Capitol Campus and help encourage them to promote policies to keep Washington competitive. Watch this space, and your mailboxes, for additional details!


Nominations open for Better Workplace Awards
AWB’s Better Workplace Awards honor companies that go the extra mile to create better working environments in the areas of workplace safety, job training, advancement programs and innovative benefit and compensation programs. Have your company recognized for its accomplishments! Awards will be presented at our annual Legislative Day in Olympia on Feb. 3. For more information, contact Chana LaChapelle. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, Dec. 10.


Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives meeting in Spokane
The Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives (WCCE) held their annual meeting last week at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane. More than 70 chamber of commerce leaders – including AWB Vice President Kris Johnson – came together to discuss current trends, the economy and best practices.Greater Spokane Incorporated and Rich Hadley, its president and CEO, played host to the event. AWB looks forward to partnering with WCCE on our new Lobby Day on Feb. 4.Lobby Day is part of our effort to build upon our successful legislative reception, held a day earlier on Feb. 3, and WCCE is an important partner in our advocacy efforts.


OTHER NEWS
Reserve your seat for the 1st Annual Greater Seattle Business Forum
Check out the region’s first “State of the Union” report, view an annual snapshot of job activity from a survey of more than 1,200 businesses, and find out why many Seattle business leaders say they are more optimistic about the prospects for economic growth. The 1st Annual Greater Seattle Business Forum will feature all that and more Nov. 9 from 7:30 – 9 a.m. Speakers include King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle-Northwest Securities Corporation President & CEO Maud Daudon, and Ivar’s President Bob Donegan. Cost is $50 (includes breakfast and a bound copy of the Job Sector Survey analysis). Register online or contact the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce’s Larry Pike at 206.389.7215.


Member Spotlight: Four AWB members listed in 100 Best Washington Wines
To celebrate Washington wine and its growing profile, Seattle Met magazine recently compiled a list of the 100 Best Washington Wines. Among the wineries that created these winning vintages were four AWB members – L’Ecole No. 41, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pacific Rim Winemakers and Tsillan Cellars. Share your company’s good news with AWB’s Paul Schlienz.


Travel update: Traffic circle completed near AWB offices
Jefferson Street has reopened at 14th Ave. SE in Olympia following several weeks of construction of a new traffic circle. The opening means drivers will no longer need to take a detour to get to AWB’s offices. Drivers should still exercise caution, however, as construction continues on the nearby state Department of Information Services building and on a new sidewalk in the area. More details, including a map of the new intersection, can be found on the state’s construction website.


AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
Federal Health-Care Reform: What Employers Need to Know and Why webinar,
Nov. 9
Major changes are in store for health-care benefit programs as implementation of the new health-care law draws closer. The new law is complicated and, in some cases, unclear. This webinar will help you understand the key components of this highly contentious new law and the impact it will have on employers and individuals over the next several years. Join us as AWB’s Donna Steward explain the details of the new law and discuss steps your organization can take to prepare for and meet the challenges you're likely to face in this new era of health-care reform. Register online or contact AWB’s Chana LaChapelle.


Employee vs. Independent Contractor: Where's the Line Webinar- Nov. 17
The Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service recently identified employer misclassification of independent contractors as a top enforcement priority across the country, while the state Department of Labor & Industries has intensified its focus on this issue in specific industries in Washington. Misclassification of employees costs federal and state governments substantial tax revenues each year and exposes employers to penalties and liability for back taxes, overtime pay, workers compensation and retirement benefits. Yet the rules for properly classifying employees and independent contractors are not always clear. This 60-minute webinar will tackle the latest strategies for correctly classifying and managing independent contractors and discuss L&I's enforcement program and what to expect if you are audited. Register online or contact AWB’s Chana LaChapelle.


THEY SAID IT
“In the end, it's a question of what you trust: a government-run system that no one denies urgently needs reform, or free market forces and the changes private competition would bring." – Bellamy Pailthorp, KPLU reporter, on Initiative 1082


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