TOP STORIES
Special session decision coming soon
Gov. Chris Gregoire could know this week whether she will need to call a special legislative session or make deep across-the-board cuts. The U.S. Senate was originally expected to vote this evening on a $26.1 billion aid package to help state and local governments — a package that could include some or all of the $480 million in Medicaid matching funds that Washington lawmakers relied on to balance the budget earlier this year. The vote was delayed until Tuesday or Wednesday, when U.S. Sen. Patty Murray is reportedly planning to argue for an amendment that would bring Washington $320 million. Senate Majority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, and Sen. Joseph Zarelli, R-Ridgefield have announced their support for a special session if the money does not come through, saying it would allow for strategic, compassionate budget cuts. But majority Democrats in control of the state House and Senate may not agree. AWB hopes the governor and Legislature will respond to this crisis in a way that maintains and create jobs, lessens the burden on families, and attracts new employers to the state.


Washington’s lack of real educational reform dooms its Race to the Top bid
Washington is out of the running for the Race to the Top competition of federal educational funds.U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced last week the list of 19 finalists that will compete for a portion of the $3.4 billion in federal money. Washington was not on the list. A key reason Washington missed the cut is that it does not allow charter schools. The News Tribune stated, “No one who’s been paying attention can claim surprise. Washington’s education establishment – meaning its lawmakers, school districts and teachers unions – is so resistant to reform that not even the prospect of $250 million in the middle of a severe recession could persuade it to accept the necessary painful changes.” Missing the cut is disappointing, Richard Davis writes on the WashACE blog. “More important, however, is that the state redoubles its commitment to real education reform, meaningful standards, and strong accountability.”


Initiative Update: Measure to repeal beer, bottled water, candy taxes makes ballot
Initiative 1107, which would repeal the state’s new taxes on candy, bottled water and beer, will be on the November ballot. State elections officials announced Wednesday that initiative backers submitted enough valid signatures to qualify I-1007 for the ballot, making it the sixth and final initiative voters will considerin November.. The campaigns for Initiative 1053, the measure to bring back the two-thirds vote requirement for the Legislature to raise taxes, and Initiative 1082, which seeks to open up the workers' compensation market to private insurers, are continuing to gain support. I-1503, in particular, needs your financial support. Click here to contribute to I-1053’s campaign. And remember, your financial help is also needed to defeat Initiative 1098, which would create a state income tax, a move that woulddiscourage employers from creating new jobs.


AWB win LifeWise President’s Award
Each year LifeWise Assurance Company rewards its top producers. This year, due to phenomenal growth in AWB’s HealthChoice plan, we qualified for the LifeWise President’s Award. Congratulations to AWB’s great HealthChoice team! Without their excellent work, we never could have won this tremendous honor.


AWB’s 2010 Judicial Review now in the mail
AWB released its 2010 Judicial Review and Scorecard last Thursday. It should be in your mailbox soon. The Scorecard presents AWB's perspective on how fairly the court treats business in the cases it hears. You can download a PDF of the Scorecard 2010 Judicial Review and Scorecard. AWB has endorsed Justice Jim Johnson, who earned a remarkable 85 percent rating in the Scorecard, as well as incumbent Chief Justice Barbara Madsen and Justice Richard Sanders.


Labor union money pours into Supreme Court race
Justice Jim Johnson, a justice who truly understands the importance of the business community, is facing a barrage of money from trial lawyers and unions determined to defeat him in the Tuesday, Aug. 17 primary. FAIRPAC, a liberal advocacy group, has spent $92,000 on attack ads so far, and the Seattle Times reports that progressive groups plan to pour more money into the race in the remaining weeks. All of the money going against Johnson is coming from groups who seek to replace him with a workers’ compensation claimant’s attorney with no judicial experience. Be sure and cast your vote for Justice Johnson.


Ruckelshaus retires from Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council
Bill Ruckelshaus, the first chairman of the volunteer Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council, retired from the position at the end of last month, Gov. Chris Gregoire announced Saturday. Gregoire praised Ruckelshaus for his service and declared July 30th “Bill Ruckelshaus Day” in honor of his work to protect Puget Sound. Gregoire has asked Martha Kongsgaard, previously the vice chairwoman, to serve as the new chairwoman of the Leadership Council.


Reminder: Nominations for new board members due Friday
Is there an AWB member you would like to nominate as a board member or an officer? We need to hear from you by Friday. Final decisions on new officers and board members will be made in September at the Policy Summit, so we need your input now. Send all nominations to AWB’s Dick Walter.


Everything you need to know about health-care reform’s impact on business in one location
There are still many unanswered questions about the impact of the new health care law on employers, their workers, and their families. To help address some of these concerns, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched a new website, HealthReformImpacts.com , to serve as a centralized location for the business community to learn about the implementation of the new law and to share their perspectives on how it impacts their businesses. On this site, business owners can access studies, timelines, media reports, and information provided by other business owners. In addition, it provides an opportunity for business owners to share their stories and perspectives on the new law.


Summer 2010 Washington Business magazine issue to be published soon
Washington Business’ Summer 2010 issue is almost ready to hit the press. It includes an enlightening look at Initiative 1082 and the workers’ compensation system, and a fascinating point-counterpoint discussion on Initiative 1053 from Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, and Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina. The new issue should be in your mailbox within the next couple of weeks. Keep an eye out for it.


Help us celebrate Business Week’s 35 anniversary
Washington Business Week will celebrate 35 years of educating and inspiring high school students on Friday, Sept. 17, from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m, aboard the MS Zaandam at Terminal 91 in Seattle. Registration is required; deadline is Thursday, Sept. 6. RSVP to 253.815.6900 or e-mail Janice@wbw.org. You can also help Washington Business magazine celebrate Business Week in its fall 2010 issue. If you’re not too embarrassed to show your1980s hairstyles, we’d love to see your photos from Business Week sessions past for possible use with our article. Send all Business Week photographs and memories to AWB’s Dan Brunell.


Department of Ecology releases Children’s Safe Product Act draft rule
The Children’s Safe Product Act rulemaking process is under way. The Department of Ecology has released its draft rule. Your comments are needed. The department will next conduct a cost benefit analysis and assess small business economic impacts of the rule. The analysis should be complete by mid-October. After that, there will be a formal public comment period. AWB members should keep in mind that this new law includes forthcoming additional reporting obligations for product manufacturers and that its language will be used to support product and chemical bans in Washington state. For more information, contact AWB’s Grant Nelson.


KEY HEARINGS, MEETINGS
Legislative objectives to be discussed at next AWB Land Use Committee tomorrow
AWB’s Land Use Committee will meet tomorrow, 10 a.m. – noon, at the law offices of Perkins Coie in Seattle. The committee will discuss AWB’s land use legislative objectives for 2011-12. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.


Policy objectives and vehicle miles traveled on agenda at Transportation Committee meeting, Aug. 5
AWB’s Transportation Committee will meet Thursday, 10 a.m. – noon, at AWB. We will review transportation policy objectives in preparation for the 2011 legislative session. We will also review the latest 2030 Washington Transportation Plan and learn about the implementation of Gov. Gregoire’s executive order on climate change as it relates to vehicle miles traveled. For more information or if you have topics you would like included on the agenda, contact AWB’s Amber Carter.


Next Workers’ Comp Coalition meeting, Aug. 10
The Workers’ Comp Coalition will meet Tuesday, Aug. 10, 10 a.m. – noon, at the new Associated General Contractors offices at 3601 20^th St. E., in Fife. For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft.


L&I will discuss changes to retro, Aug. 10
Changes to the state’s retrospective ratings system top the agenda when state Department of Labor & Industries officials meet with the retro community on Tuesday, Aug. 10, noon – 2 p.m., immediately following the Workes’ Comp Coalition meeting at the Associated General Contractors at 3601 20^th St. E., in Fife. L&I intends to repeal the existing chapter of the Washington Administrative Code governing the retro program and replace it with a new set of rules.For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft.


Discussion of legislative objectives continues at next Energy Committee meeting, Aug. 17
A joint meeting of AWB’s Energy Committee and Climate Change subcommittee will be Tuesday, Aug. 17, 10 a.m. – noon, at AWB. A conference call option will be available. The committees will continue discussing AWB’s energy legislative objectives for 2011-12, adopt final edits and changes on recommendations to AWB’s board meeting in September, and review AWB’s climate change legislative objectives for 2011-12. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe or Grant Nelson.


Health-care reform at Human Resources Council meeting, Aug. 26
At the Human Resources Council’s next meeting, the featured speaker will be Seattle employment benefits attorney and health care expert Howard Bye, whose presentation, “Everything You Need to Know about Health Care Reform, But Are Afraid to Ask,” will be moderated in a Q&A format. Additionally, there will be an update and briefing on the political and legislative landscape, as well as review, discussion, and recommendations on AWB’s 2011 legislative objectives in the human resources field. The meeting is on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2 – 4:30 p.m., at Stoel Rives LLP in Seattle. For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft.


Don’t miss Regional Membership and Board Meetings coming soon to a city near you AWB’s Regional Membership and Board Meetings are great opportunities to meet with your local legislators. This is also your opportunity to make your voice heard in AWB’s candidate endorsement process culminating at AWB’s Policy Summit in September. 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.


OTHER NEWS
Immigration: Why Reform Can’t Wait, Aug. 12
AWB is co-sponsoring a one-day conference and strategic planning session for employers who rely on immigrant workers and grasp the urgent need for immigration reform. Featured speakers include U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.; entrepreneur and scholar Vivek Wadwha; and veteran political commentator Morton Kondracke. The summit will bring together engaged employers from across the U.S. to share ideas about how best to advance immigration reform in 2011. The conference takes place at the Seattle Sheraton on Thursday, Aug. 12. Register online. Registration fee is $35. The VIP Dinner and summit is $300.


Nominations under way: State seeks to honor workforce & economic development leaders
The Workforce Board and Department of Commerce are accepting nominations for the 2010 Governor's Best Practices Awards in Economic and Workforce Development. The annual Governor's Award for Best Practices in Workforce and Economic Development brings statewide recognition to projects and programs that have achieved positive results — particularly achievements that create family-wage jobs, encourage innovation, and promote an environmentally healthy economy —to both the field of workforce and economic development.Deadline is September 10. Application material is available here.


Alaska pilots new clean flight guidance system
In this week’s Member Spotlight: Alaska Airlines, an AWB member since 1979, tested a new satellite-based guidance technology over Puget Sound on July 22. The new system, Required Navigation Performance (RNP), reduced fuel consumption and cut emissions by 35 percent. It’s part of the airline’s Greener Skies initiative begun in June 2009. Share your company’s good news with AWB’s Paul Schlienz.


AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
Health-Care Reform and Your Business – What does it mean?
President Obama signed landmark legislation on health-care reform into law, and the impact on employers is substantial and complicated. For the first time, many employers will be subjected to penalties if they do not offer coverage to employees or if the coverage fails an affordability test. Some requirements go into effect now, and others are phased in over the course of several years. Down the road, employers also could be affected by a new tax on costly health insurance plans if health-care plan costs continue to rise. Several items within this law affect all employers – new reporting requirements, new IRS responsibilities, required changes to health plan coverage's and more. To help employers learn what their obligations under the massive new law will be, we have developed a webinar series to address key provisions on health-care reform and explain how it will affect your company. To view webinar topics and dates click here. To register, contact AWB’s Jen Costello at 800.521.9325.


Register now for Policy Summit at Semiahmoo, Sept. 21-23
Are you registered for AWB’s 21st Annual Policy Summit? It’s time to register and reserve your room now.This is the last Policy Summit at beautiful Semiahmoo Resort before the event relocates to Suncadia next year. With a great golf tournament, including special prizes, on one of the Northwest’s finest courses, this is one event you won’t want to miss. Additionally, the Policy Summit will help get you up to speed on public policy, politics and the economy with elected officials, candidates, and other great speakers. To register, click here or contact AWB’s Jen Costello at 800.521.9325.


2010 Manufacturing Excellence Awards accepting nominations until Friday
AWB’s awards recognize manufacturing firms for 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. Nominations are due this Friday. For more information, contact AWB’s Jen Costello.


Tolearn about more upcoming AWB events, view our online events calendar.


THEY SAID IT
“It would be giving Washington way too much credit to say the state was an also-ran in Race to the Top. ‘Pathetic wannabe’ would be more accurate.” - The News Tribune

This Week's President's Perspective: ‘Burn, Baby Burn’ Forest Policy Wreaks Havoc on Environment and People