TOP STORIES
Governor may call special legislative session if Congress doesn’t provide Medicaid money
Another special legislative session may be on the way if Congress doesn’t come through with $480 million in Medicaid payments. The payments were once considered a sure thing, but they have been delayed and there is now some question about whether they will be approved, The Spokesman-Review reported last week. Gov. Chris Gregoire said she may need to call a second special session to decide how to cut the budget, adding that a lot depends on upcoming economic forecasts due out this month and in September.


U.S. economy still sluggish, according to Labor Department
The U.S. Department of Labor's May jobs report showed a sluggish economy. Private employers made only 41,000 new hires in May, a dramatic drop from 218,000 in April and the lowest number since January, according to the report. While 431,000 jobs overall were created last month, most of these jobs ­— 411,000 — came from the hiring of temporary census workers by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Additionally, the report showed Washington state’s economy still in trouble with Seattle among 97 metropolitan areas losing jobs.


Filing week begins today — candidates make it official
Candidate filing began this morning and runs through 4 p.m. Friday. All 98 state House seats are up for re-election as well as 25 state Senate seats. Also, all of Washington’s congressional seats are up for election, plus the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Patty Murray. For more details, visit the Washington Secretary of State website.


Hearing on AWB challenge to Referendum 52 ballot title set for Friday
AWB’s ballot title challenge to Referendum 52, a measure to issue $505 million in bonds to fund energy efficiency upgrades in school buildings, has a date in Thurston County Superior Court on Friday. Judge Carol Murphy will hear our argument that the ballot title should inform voters that a temporary bottled-water tax would become permanent if the measure is approved, a position supported by The Seattle Times. Interestingly, the campaign supporting the referendum agrees with us that the ballot’s title should mention extension of the bottled water tax, and is now a party to our challenge. For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft.


Key ballot initiatives need your support
AWB is encouraging its members to contribute money and help gather signatures for Initiative 1082, the workers’ comp initiative, and Initiative 1053, which seeks to restore the two-thirds vote requirement in order for the Legislature to raise taxes. I-1082 would lift Washington’s ban on private workers’ compensation insurance coverage. Washington is one of only four states with a state monopoly on workers’ comp insurance, and the system desperately needs reform. I-1082 is a good start at addressing problems that legislators and the governor have been unwilling to tackle. More information about the measure, including how to gather signatures to make sure it appears on the November ballot, is available here. For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft. I-1053 is a response to the Legislature’s decision this year to suspend the voter-approved two-thirds vote requirement, a move that preceded passage of nearly $800 million in new taxes. For more information, including how you or your company can contribute, contact AWB’s Amber Carter.


Washington applies for Round Two of Race to the Top
Washington made last Monday’s deadline for applying for Round Two of the competition for Race to the Top educational funding. This federal program is designed to encourage innovation in public schools. Unfortunately, due to pressure from the teachers’ union, Washington has yet to implement charter schools and teacher accountability measures that would make the state more likely to receive the funding. For more information, contact AWB’s Donna Steward.


AWB Institute seeks manufacturers’ input with stormwater questionnaire
Are you a manufacturer with a stormwater permit from the state? If so, watch for a short questionnaire soon from the AWB Institute. The survey is intended to help the Stormwater Technical Resource Center determine how to best suit the needs of businesses permitted under the industrial and construction stormwater permits. The center, to be located at the Washington State University Puyallup Research & Extension Center, is the nonprofit established as a result of AWB-led legislation in 2009. It will deliver training tools and assistance for stormwater permit compliance. The questionnaire, also sent to members of AWB’s Water Quality Committee, focuses on key problem areas related to stormwater permit compliance issues and technical assistance needs. For more information, contact AWB Institute’s Grant Gilmore.


Department of Commerce launches effort to revise state energy strategy
Washington’s Department of Commerce is launching an effort to revise the State Energy Strategy, Washington’s comprehensive plan for meeting our future energy needs. This project is the result of action taken during the 2010 legislative session. An update to the state’s energy strategy is due to the governor and the Legislature on Dec. 1, with a full revision to be delivered by Dec. 2011. This legislation directed the revision of the state energy strategy and declared that a successful strategy must balance three goals to maintain competitive energy prices, foster a clean energy economy and jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.


Department of Ecology revises greenhouse gas emissions guidelines, needs public comment
The Department of Ecology recently released its Draft SEPA Guidance on Addressing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Ecology will take written public comment on this draft guidance until Friday, June 25. Comments should be sent to sepaguidance@ecy.wa.gov. AWB will discuss the issue at its June 17 Climate Change Subcommittee meeting. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.


New issue of Washington Business magazine in the mail
The latest issue of Washington Business includes a look at how Northwest businesses are bracing for the temporary closure of the Columbia-Snake River navigation system, how some companies are making innovative use of new social media tools, and the compelling story of Nat and Kris Baker, owners of Colville Construction. The couple adopted four children from Haiti, including three who came to live with them in the chaotic days following the devastating January earthquake. Watch for Washington Business in your mailbox this week!


KEY HEARINGS, MEETINGS
Tax changes on discussion agenda at Tax and Fiscal Policy Council meeting, Wednesday
The AWB Tax and Fiscal Policy Council meets on Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. – noon, Wednesday at Davis, Wright Tremaine in Seattle. The Department of Revenue will continue its discussion with AWB on the implementation of the tax changes from the 2010 session with an emphasis on economic nexus, director fees and taxes on candy and carbonated beverages.For more information, contact AWB’s Amber Carter.


Important AWB climate change meeting June 17
AWB’s Climate Change Subcommittee will meet Thursday, June 17, 10 a.m. – noon, at AWB. The subcommittee has an action-packed agenda that members will surely not want to miss, including the development of Washington-specific data related to climate change and updates on pertinent state and federal climate related efforts. For more information, contact AWB’s Grant Nelson or Chris McCabe.


Ecology updating solid waste laws – learn more at AWB on June 23
The Department of Ecology is updating RCW 70.95 and other laws governing hazardous and solid waste. This endeavor, designed to move the agency’s Beyond Waste Plan towards a goal of “zero waste”, was the subject of seven recent statewide workshops. RCW 70.95 was adopted in 1969 with the primary focus of disposal of solid waste. Over the years, the Legislature has added to that scope, as well as passing several other laws related to solid waste and products. Ecology now wants to hear from AWB. Members are encouraged to learn more on Wednesday, June 23, when program staff members will present the agency’s plans at AWB and answer questions regarding this important topic. For more, contact AWB’s Grant Nelson.


Environmental issues on center stage at AWB’s GAC retreat
Climate change and Puget Sound water quality remain top environmental priorities for federal, state and local policy makers and the business community. This year’s AWB Governmental Affairs Council retreat, scheduled for July 12-14 at the Alderbrook Resort on beautiful Hood Canal, will feature two panels on these important topics. Call Alderbrook at 360.898.2200 and mention you are reserving a room for the retreat. The deadline for reserving rooms is noon, this Friday. After that, the rooms will be released and reservations will be considered on a space and rate availability basis. Cost for the GAC retreat is $220, including all meals and meeting costs. For more information, contact AWB’s Connie Grande.


AWB Regional Membership and Board Meetings set for August, September
AWB’s Regional Membership and Board Meetings are open to all AWB members and prospective members, and provide an excellent opportunity to hear directly from local legislators. Candidate endorsements are also on the agenda. This fall’s meetings are scheduled for:

•Aug. 31 — Tacoma
•Sept. 1 — Vancouver
•Sept. 2 — Bellevue
•Sept. 8 — Spokane
•Sept. 9 — Tri-Cities
•Sept. 9 — Yakima
•Sept. 10 — Moses Lake
•Sept. 14 — Mount Vernon
•Sept. 15 — Mountlake Terrace

More detailed information, including times, specific location and agendas, is available on AWB’s events calendar.


AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
2010 Manufacturing Excellence Awards accepting nominations
AWB’s awards recognize manufacturing firmsfor their contributions to growing our economy and improving quality of life. Awards will be given to a small, medium and large manufacturer in the following categories: Green Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Innovation and Manufacturer of the Year. Download the nomination form here. Awards will be presented at a special luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 22, in conjunction with AWB’s annual Policy Summit at Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine. For more information, contact AWB’s Jodi Martinez.


Policy Summit at Semiahmoo – Sept. 21-23
Start making plans now to attend AWB’s 21st Annual Policy Summit. The agenda includes a dynamic line-up of speakers who will help you make sense of the political landscape, including Gary Langer, director of polling for ABC News, and Matthew Bishop, American business editor of The Economist magazine. Join us this fall at scenic Semiahmoo Resort. To register, click here or contact Jodi Martinez at 800.521.9325.


Online, on demand compliance training
In view of the explosion of employment claims in recent years, employers of all sizes are vulnerable to employment disputes. New and proposed legislation continues to expand employers' exposure to claims. To help your company avoid problems and stay in compliance, AWB and our member partner emTrain have a member benefit program that will give you 20 percent off the best online HR compliance training on the market. emTRAiN’s courses are authored in-house by practicing labor law attorneys and HR trainers with input from the top employment lawyers at NBC Universal, Sun Microsystems & Cisco Systems. For more information and to register for these classes, click here.


THEY SAID IT
“Obama’s failure to convey any hint of genuine emotion, to rouse the American people to turn their hearts toward the Gulf and to assure them that their world— still built on the plentiful supply of fossil fuels— is not falling apart, is a profound failure of leadership. Instead of offering reassurance, the president is using the crisis to promote his political agenda, hankering for alternative energy and climate change legislation in Congress— though there won’t be any significant replacement of carbon-based power sources for years to come.” – Keith Koffler, Politico


This Week's President's Perspective: Massachusetts Health Care is a Bellwether