TOP STORIES
Labor unions pour in last-minute cash to defeat I-1053 taxpayer protections
With time running out before the Nov. 2 election, labor unions are dumping $1.1 million into the campaign to defeat Initiative 1053. The cash infusion – which came just before campaign restrictions kicked in barring large contributions – financed a $1 million burst of television ads that detract from the real reason the initiative is on the ballot: To protect taxpayers from another big tax hike. Don’t be fooled. I-1053 restores the voter-approved requirement that lawmakers must receive a 2/3rds majority to raise taxes. It’s your wallet’s best protection during the 2011 legislative session when lawmakers face a bigger budget gap than in 2010. With 1-1053, legislators will be forced to start prioritizing spending. Without it, the sky’s the limit for tax increases. There’s still time to contribute to I-1053 and be sure to follow Yes on I-1053 on Facebook and Twitter.


I-1098 state income tax would help Texas and Oregon at Washington’s expense
What’s “good for Washington” may turn out to be even better for some other states. Texas hopes Washington voters will make the state less attractive to business by passing Initiative 1098 and giving it an income tax. Even before the election, Texas was courting Washington employers. Texas Gov. Rick Perry wrote, "As the State of Washington considers a multibillion-dollar tax increase for citizens and businesses ... I invite you to consider your future in America's new land of opportunity: the State of Texas. If Washington doesn't want your business, Texas does. Texas has no personal income tax and no interest in getting one." Making Washington less business-friendly could also help Oregon. Follow the campaign to Defeat 1098 on Facebook and Twitter.


Voters will have to take the lead: Vote Yes on I-1082
With ever-rising costs to employers, Washington is desperately in need of workers’ compensation reform, but lawmakers have proven themselves unwilling to make the needed changes. “Voters will have to take the lead,” The News Tribune said earlier this month, when it joined the majority of Washington's leading newspapers in supporting Initaitive 1082. I-1082 would end the government monopoly on workers' comp insurance and open up Washington's market to private competition, something that's permitted in all but four states. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) recently compared Washington’s system to Oregon’s and noted that Oregon hasn’t raised its premiums in two decades. If I-1082 passes, the paper said, “everyone wins save public unions and the plaintiffs bar.” Follow the I-1082 campaign on Facebook and Twitter.


Mail in your ballot – make your voice heard!
With one week left before Nov. 2, be sure and fill out you ballot and mail it in. And if you aren’t registered to vote, hurry! Today is the final day to register in person at your county election office. With your vote, you can help change policies that are holding back our state’s economic recovery. Initiative 1098 (income tax), 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.


Voters talk taxes tonight on TVW
Tonight at 7 p.m., TVW will air a live Statewide Town Hall on the three tax initiatives on the November ballot. The one-hour program will feature a live, interactive survey of a random sample of Washington voters conducted by the polling firm Elway Research. The program will include discussion and polling on I-1053, restoring a 2/3 majority for tax increases; I-1098, imposing an income tax; and I-1107, repealing taxes on candy, soda pop and bottled water.


Re-election prospects dim for incumbents who supported health-care reform law
Votes have consequences — and it appears that many incumbent congressmen are about to learn this lesson the hard way. A new Rasmussen telephone survey reveals most likely voters think their congressional representatives do not deserve re-election if they voted for the federal health-care reform law, the auto bailouts or the $787 billion economic stimulus. According to the poll, 50 percent of 1,000 respondents oppose the re-election of health-care law supporters.


Department of Ecology Proposes New Rule for Children’s Products
Last Friday, the Department of Ecology filed its proposed rule, which implements the reporting requirements of the Children’s Safe Products Act (CSPA) passed in 2008. The rule requires manufacturers of products designed for children under the age of 12 to annually report to the department if those products contain one or more of 59 chemicals identified by the agency to pose a potential risk to kids. The department has identified approximately 276 businesses in Washington that will be impacted by the rule, including manufacturers of toys, games, apparel, cleaning compounds, and furniture. Ecology has scheduled one public hearing on Dec. 9 in Lacey, and comments on the draft rule are due Dec. 31. For more information and to participate in the development of AWB’s comment letter on the draft CSPA rule, contact AWB’s Grant Nelson.


State looks to SEPA to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
KPLU reported this morning on the state Department of Ecology's attempt to use the State Environmental Policy Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. SEPA isn't a good tool for the job, as AWB's Chris McCabe points out in the report. The law was enacted in 1971 to address local environmental impacts; AWB has supported a national approach to climate legislation. But the latest plan, which proposes creating a toolbox of information resources, has improved significantly. The idea, which is now a "working paper" rather than an official "guidance," is to provide advice on how to use the existing SEPA checklist to identify and disclose greenhouse gas emissions. The draft of the working paper was released last week and a public comment period runs through Nov. 17. AWB is still reviewing it. For more information, contact Chris McCabe.


AWB Legislative Reception & Lobby Day in Olympia, Feb. 3 -4: Don’t miss it!
Be sure to circle Feb. 3 and 4 on your 2011 calendars for AWB’s new Legislative Reception and Lobby day events. On Feb. 3, we’ll host our annual legislative briefing and reception at Olympia’s Red Lion Hotel. But this year, we’ve added a new component: A lobby day on Feb. 4 when you can meet with your lawmakers on the Capitol Campus. This is a great opportunity to let your lawmakers know how their decisions affect your business and encourage them to support promote policies that keep Washington competitive. Watch this space, and your mailboxes, for additional details!


AWB now accepting nominations 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! Click here to download the nomination form. 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.


KEY HEARINGS, MEETINGS
Education and Training Committee meeting rescheduled for Thursday
AWB Education and Training Committee will meet Thursday, 10 a.m. at the TrueBlue offices in Tacoma. Guests for the discussion will include Christine Campbell from the Center for Reinventing Education to discuss innovations in educational delivery, as well as Chris Barron from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding agency request legislation affecting end of course assessments. For more information, contact AWB’s Donna Steward


Energy Committee meeting on Nov. 1
AWB’s Energy Committee will meet on Monday, Nov. 1, 2010, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., at AWB. On the agenda: Implementation of AWB’s 2011-12 Energy Legislative Objective, the status of the Department of Commerce’s State Energy Strategy Update, and HB 2504 an attempt from last legislative session to modify Washington’s volumetric Renewable Fuels Standard. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.


OTHER NEWS
Wireless pioneer John Stanton at SPU’s Distinguished Speaker Series, Nov. 1 – RSVP now!
Each year, Seattle Pacific University’s School of Business and Economics welcomes a business executive of national prominence for its Distinguished Speaker Series. Sponsored AWB’s HealthChoice, this year’s speaker is John Stanton, chairman of the board of Trilogy International Partners. A wireless industry pioneer, Stanton co-founded three of the top-10 wireless operators in the United States in the last 25 years. He served as COO and vice chairman of McCaw Cellular Communications, chairman and CEO of Western Wireless Corporation, and chairman and CEO of VoiceStream Wireless. Additionally, Stanton served as co-chair of the state’s Regional Transportation Commission. Stanton will speak Monday, Nov. 1, noon – 1:30 p.m., at SPU. A table of 10 is reserved for AWB. Eight spots are available. To RSVP, contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan.


Reserve your seat for the 1^st 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.


AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
Truths About PCI Compliance webinar, Thursday
Does your business accept credit or debit cards? If so, are you in compliance with the new security standards? Credit card companies and acquirer banks can levy stiff fines and remove your ability to process credit card transactions if you are not in compliance. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard applies to every organization that processes credit or debit card information, including merchants and third-party service providers that store, process or transmit credit card/debit card data. Many merchants are not even aware these standards exist! Attend a Truths About PCI Compliance free webinar, on Thursday, to help you get to the bottom of the truths about the new PCI Compliance laws. Contact AWB’s Chana LaChapelle to register.


Federal Health-Care Reform: What Employers Need to Know and Why webinar,
Nov. 9
Congress just passed, and the president signed into law, the most significant changes to the American health-care system in the nation's history. 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 Internal Revenue Service recently identified employer misclassification of independent contractors as a top enforcement priority across the country, while the 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 crystal 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
“Our federal deficit is already at unsustainable levels, and most Americans understand that we can ill afford another entitlement program that adds substantially to it. But our recent health reform has created a situation where there are strong economic incentives for employers to drop health coverage altogether. The consequence will be to drive many more people than projected – and with them, much greater cost – into the reform's federally subsidized system.” – Gov. Philip Bredesen, D-Tenn.


This Week's President's Perspective: State income tax would be economic suicide