TOP STORIES
Learn about health-care reform and what it means to your employees at AWB’s spring meeting
AWB has added a panel discussion on health-care reform to its spring meeting in Spokane. This must-attend session is on Tuesday, May 11 from 1:15 – 3:15 p.m. Jeff Gingold and Jeffrey Knapp, attorneys with Lane Powell, and Steve Hill, chairman of the Puget Sound Health Alliance and former head of the Washington State Health Care Authority, will speak at the meeting, which is held at the historic Davenport Hotel May 11-12. The event also features the presentation of AWB’s annual Community Service and Environmental Excellence Awards. As part of the afternoon program on May 11, AWB government affairs staff will lead issue discussions and reflect on the 2010 legislative session. Register online or contact AWB’s Jodi Martinez.


Gov. Gregoire takes immediate steps to implement health-care reform in Washington state
Gov. Chris Gregoire unveiled a proposal Thursday aimed at preparing Washington to implement health-care reform as components of the new law begin to take effect. Gregoire signed an executive order creating a Health Care Cabinet to write and implement the policies and rules necessary to carry out health-care reform statewide for all affected state agencies. After receiving public input, the Health Care Cabinet will report back to the governor by Aug. 1 with recommendations for any changes to state law necessary to be submitted in the 2011 legislative session. Gregoire also appointed Doug Porter, current Medicaid director and assistant secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services’ Health and Recovery Services Administration, as the new administrator of the Health Care Authority.


Special legislative session nears home stretch without agreement on taxes
Little was accomplished last week in the special legislative session. Democratic leaders from the Senate and House still have not agreed on a plan to close a $2.8 billion gap in the general budget. The Senate wants a sales tax increase while the House wants to close tax exemptions and collect more money from service businesses. While there are some indications that a compromise may be in the works, — the latest plan from the Senate Democrats includes taxes on beer, candy and gum in addition to a sales tax increase — the clock is running out on the 30-day special session, scheduled to end next Tuesday, April 13.


AWB will attend press conference on new Moses Lake BMW plant tomorrow
Washington has reason to celebrate the coming of a carbon fiber manufacturing plant to Moses Lake as a joint venture of the SGL Group and BMW. Representatives from AWB will attend a press conference tomorrow in Seattle where top executives of the German carmaker BMW and its partner, the SGL Group, are expected speak about the plant and its importance to Washington state. The joint venture, officially known as SGL Automotive Fibers LLC, is expected to manufacture carbon fiber body parts for use in BMW’s planned all-electric Megacity vehicle. While the exact number of jobs the $200 million plant will create is still unknown, it is welcome news to the state at a time it is trying to pull out of a recession.


Student loan system overhauled with health-care bill
Although it was barely noticed, a major student loan system overhaul was ushered in with health-care reform. When President Obama signed the health-care reform bill into law, he also enacted a massive overhaulof the nation’s student loan system. Under the revamped system, the federal government will be the primary lender to students, instead of banks. The new law also bolsters Pell grants, aids historically black colleges and universities, and makes it easier for students to repay their loans by setting caps on annual payments based on income. For more information, contact AWB’s Donna Steward.


Boeing expects $150 million hit from health-care overhaul
The Boeing Co. expects to take a $150 million charge on its first quarter earnings due to the recently enacted federal health-care reform legislation. The company announced last week that the expense will hurt earnings by approximately 20 cents per share during the quarter. Beginning in 2013, Boeing will no longer be able to claim part of an income tax deduction connected to prescription drug benefits for retirees. Boeing is not the only company feeling a similar pinch. AT&T, Caterpillar, Prudential and 3M are among the companies that have announced similar accounting charges. Is this any way to treat the nation’s employers at a time when we need them to help bring back this economy from recession?


OTHER NEWS
GoGreen conference aimed at helping businesses become more sustainable
GoGreen ’10, a one-day sustainability conference on Wednesday, April 21 in Seattle, will feature more than 45 speakers and 12 different sessions aimed at helping business owners “go green.” Attendees will hear first-hand success stories and join in panel discussions offering turnkey solutions useful to any size business. AWB is a media partner for the conference and AWB members who attend will receive a discount; use the discount code “AWB” when registering. The conference is Wednesday, April 21, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at the Olive 8 at The Hyatt, 1635 8^th Ave., Seattle. To register online, visit GoGreen Seattle.


City of Kent offers ways to reuse sand, get rid of sandbags
Now that the official 2009-10 flood season has ended, some people may be looking for ways to get rid of sandbags for the summer. While the sandbags won’t last until the next flood season, there are ways residents can save the sand for fall or use it for gardening and home improvement projects. For Kent residents unable to keep the sand onsite through the summer, the city will collect the sand and sandbags each Saturday in April, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at Home Depot (26120 104^th Ave. SE, Kent) and Grandview Park (3600 S 228^th St, Kent). Assistance is available at 206.755.4814 or kentserviceclubs@yahoo.com. Businesses are not allowed to dump sand at these sites, but they can find additional resources and potential disposal sites at www.kingcounty.gov/floodplans. Non-Kent residents should contact their local emergency management office for sandbag disposal options in their area.


Reminder: April is Disaster Preparedness Month in Washington
Does your business have plans to participate in the drop, cover, hold drill on Wednesday, April 21, 9:45 – 10 a.m. Visit the Emergency Management Division’s (EMD) In Focus to learn more about activities you can do in your workplace to improve your disaster preparedness. For more information, contact Rosanne Garrand at 253.542.7419. There is also a simple yet valuable resource at the EMD Business Portal available for small and medium businesses that need help initiating a meaningful disaster response and/or continuity plan.


Register now for Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference, April 6-7
Don’t miss this opportunity to join with emergency management planning professionals from the private and public sectors and share lessons in emerging topics in preparedness. The Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference takes place April 6 – 7, at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. Call 866.986.8083 or 253.238.8000 for lodging registration at the Hotel Murano. For more information, contact Dana (Schlenker) Colwell at 253.445.4575.


Win $10,000 for your small business with Office 2010 video contest
Any business with seven or fewer full-time employees in Washington state is eligible to enter the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Microsoft Corporation’s “It’s Time for Business with Office 2010 Video Contest. Participation is easy. Download a FREE trial version of Office 2010 and use it in your business. Then create a short video about your positive experience with Office 2010. Finally, complete the video contest submission form at ItsTimeForBusiness.com before Thursday, April 22. Submissions will be judged on five criteria: originality, creativity, concept, information, and overall presentation. Prizes include $10,000 (Best Video/Grand Prize Winner), $1,000 (Best Foreign Language Video) and $1,000 (Best Video by a Woman-Owned Business). No purchase is necessary but participants must meet all contest rules and eligibility requirements. Click here for more information.


AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
Employee handbooks and personnel policies: Are you in compliance?
Given the growing legal and practical importance of personnel policies in today's workplace, many employers are turning to the use of employee handbooks to implement and communicate the details of the employer/employee relationship. A carefully prepared and customized handbook can be an employer's biggest weapon against labor and employment litigation, if properly crafted and utilized. This seminar on Tuesday, May 4 from 8 a.m. – noon at the Holiday Inn Seattle-SeaTac Airport (17338 International Blvd., SeaTac) will offer helpful advice on what to include in your employee handbook so that you can maximize communication and minimize your liability. For more information, contact AWB’s Jodi Martinez.


Reminder: We need your nominations for AWB Board
AWB is seeking nominations for its board of directors. Please send the name and contact information of your nominee(s) to Dick Walter, AWB vice president of operations, by Friday, April 30.


Washington Small Business Forum on Friday, May 14
You are invited to attend the Washington Small Business Forum on Friday, May 14, from 9 am – noon at Bellevue City Hall. Agencies and organizations that participate find valuable information, opportunities to network and a valuable exchange of ideas. This forum will be hosted by the Internal Revenue Service and the City of Bellevue’s Office of Economic Development. Speakers include: Lincoln Ferris, vice president of the Washington Association of Small Business Incubators; Ashley Zanolli and Wallace Reid, from the Environmental Protection Agency, who will talk about new EPA rules and their impact on small business, and Kari Gilje, of the IRS, who will give an overview of the provisions of the new Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act. To register, contact Kari Gilje at 206.220.5469.


New credit card payment processing program offers immediate savings over traditional options!
AWB is pleased to announce an exclusive partnership with Fast Transact, Inc. and an exciting new program for merchant services and credit card processing. As a preferred merchant, you can benefit from savings and customizable options that fit your business needs. Visit us online or call 800.687.8505, ext. 156, for your free analysis. Be sure to mention that you are an AWB member.


THEY SAID IT
“The economic future of the state requires, as one of many ingredients, a state government that is fiscally sound, with its future demands on economic activity at least predictable. Whatever the tax hikes the special-session lawmakers eventually approve, those fundamental conditions will not have been met. The state’s problems are temporarily covered, but not remedied.” – April 3 editorial, The Wenatchee World


This Week's President's Perspective: Our state has a lot riding on the 787