TOP STORIES
AWB joining U.S. Chamber efforts to help Haiti earthquake victims
AWB is urging its members to join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's effort to help earthquake victims in Haiti. Currently, the Chamber's effort has netted $16 million in aid from business to help the hundreds of thousands — including 45,000 Americans — who are victims of the earthquake. "The devastation is so overwhelming it is difficult to comprehend," said AWB President Don C. Brunell. "It is also difficult to know how to help, but the Chamber has set up a help site and help line." Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch.


AWB pushing ahead with urgent workers’ comp reform – contact your representative today!
A bill that would bring badly needed reform to the state’s workers’ compensation system was introduced today in Olympia. HB 2950, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Mt. Vernon, and co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of legislators, has three main features, all aimed at reducing costs, treating injured workers fairly and eliminating fraud. A new report by the Washington Research Council said workers’ comp reform is essential to bringing the state into the competitive mainstream and cannot be ignored or postponed. As it is, workers’ comp costs are going up an average 7.6 percent this year and they could skyrocket in 2011 as officials try to keep the system solvent. But we need your help — union officials have made it clear they oppose reform. Contact your representative today to ask House leadership to make sure this bill is heard. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch or contact AWB’s Kris Tefft for more information.


Gregoire: “Jobs are the way out of the recession.”
Last Monday, Gov. Chris Gregoire kicked off the 2010 legislative session with her State of the State address. The governor told lawmakers “jobs are the way out of this recession,” and outlined her plan to create up to 40,000 jobs. The plan includes a combination of capital investments and financial incentives, such as a one-time $2,000 B&O tax credit for small businesses for each full-time job created and maintained for a year. In the GOP response to the governor’s address, Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee, stressed the need to reduce government spending and concentrate on creating and keeping jobs. She also criticized the governor for renegotiating union contracts that were set to expire June 30. "Employers and employees in the private sector are making sacrifices; we in the public sector should share in the sacrifices as well," said Parlette. AWB President Don Brunell said even though the governor’s plan is just a proposal right now, it is a good starting point and deserves our support. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch.


With UI taxes skyrocketing, lawmakers consider piling on more costs
AWB joined the Washington Roundtable and National Federation of Independent Businesses last week in opposing a pair of bills that would increase costs to the state’s already generous unemployment insurance system. HB 2553 and HB 2647, both sponsored by Rep. Steve Conway, D-Tacoma, would expand unemployment benefits to some part-time workers and some workers who voluntarily quit their jobs. UI taxes are rising dramatically this year for many Washington businesses – as high as 1,300 percent for some – as a result of continued high unemployment. That means it is especially important that lawmakers carefully consider the consequences of adding even more costly benefits to the system, AWB’s Donna Steward told lawmakers. "Both of these measures will lead to an unknown greater payout from the fund, creating more pressure to raise rates to keep the fund solvent, which will only hinder job creation." said Nancy Hiteshue of the Washington Roundtable. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch or contact AWB’s Donna Steward for more information.


Health-care reform “breakthrough” reported, but Massachusetts election could kill entire effort
In what is being called a breakthrough in the health-care reform negotiations, union leaders reached a deal last Friday with Congress and the White House on how to tax high-cost insurance plans to pay for the health-care overhaul. Labor leaders had opposed the tax until the agreement, which gives union members several years of relief from paying it. The entire health care reform effort, however, may be in jeopardy due to a special election to fill the late Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat. Republican Scott Brown, who opposes the current health care overhaul, is running ahead of Democrat Martha Coakley. If the GOP wins this seat, it will deprive Senate Democrats of their razor-thin 60 member, filibuster-proof majority, casting doubt on the health reform plan. In the meantime, AWB urges its members to contact Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and their House members to oppose this legislation. You can also sign a petition demanding openness and transparency in the negotiations over this important bill.


Gov. Gregoire will speak Thursday at AWB’s Lobby Lunch
Gov. Gregoire will speak at AWB’s first Lobby Lunch of the 2010 session this Thursday at noon at AWB. Please note that parking, which has traditionally been hard to find during the session, will be even more challenging this year because of the construction of the state’s new Department of Information Services building on Jefferson St. If you have not already RSVP’d and you are interested in attending, please RSVP by 5 p.m., tomorrow, for catering specifications.Individual purchased lunches are $14. Please allow plenty of time to find parking when visiting either AWB or the Capitol. For more information or to register, contact AWB’s Connie Grande.


Contact your legislators with WashingtonBusinessVotes.com
AWB’s WashingtonBusinessVotes.com is a great new resource that helps you get the information you need to stay informedand provides the tools to make your opinion heard by lawmakers. This site allows employers to find out what legislation is affecting them on a state and national basis and facilitates communication between AWB members and elected officials.


Weekly Twitter chat on legislative issues each Thursday
Did you join in last week’s chat? AWB is using the popular social media Web site Twitter to lead a weekly Web chat about the 2010 legislative session. For those familiar with Twitter, you can follow the chat and participate in it by following AWB, and by setting up a search for the hashtag #walegchat. Join us each Thursday at 4 p.m. Also, you can follow the action in the Legislature any time by tracking the hashtag #waleg. If you need more information about Twitter or how to join the action, contact AWB’s Jason Hagey.


Weekly phone-in briefing on Friday
This Friday, WashACE, the Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy, will continue its weekly half-hour phone briefings on legislative issues. The call begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends promptly at 8 a.m. To participate, e-mail Richard Davis at WashACE.


Track job-creation legislation with JobMakers.com
If Washington is going to emerge from the recession and rebuild a solid economy, it needs new jobs. AWB’s JobMakers.com helps you track news and information about bills that will help create new jobs, provide investment opportunities, and encourage economic growth. Use it find out more about a particular bill and which lawmakers are supporting business-related legislation. The site will be updated regularly throughout the 2010 legislative session, so check back often or subscribe to an RSS feed to get regular updates.


Taxable retail sales declined 11.6 percent during third quarter of 2009
Taxable retail sales declined 11.6 percent to $26.4 billion during the third quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, according to the Washington State Department of Revenue. The July through September sales decline is the third-largest on record. Sales dropped 14 percent during the second quarter of 2009 and 12.8 percent during the first quarter of 2009. This decline in retail sales is reflective of the poor state of the economy and evidence of the need for lawmakers to help jump-start the economy rather than adding more costs to employers.


Attorney General McKenna to speak at AWB’s Legislative Day on Feb. 3 – register now
AWB is pleased to welcome Attorney General Rob McKenna as the luncheon speaker Wednesday, Feb. 3 at AWB’s Legislative Day at Olympia’s Red Lion Hotel. Gov. Chris Gregoire was scheduled to serve as the guest speaker, but will be meeting with President Obama that day in Washington, D.C. and is unavailable. AWB’s Legislative Day is your chance to meet face-to-face with legislators and participate in panel discussions on policy issues facing employers. This event is one of your best opportunities to network with other AWB members, elected officials and agency directors. It’s also a great chance to enhance your company’s visibility through a sponsorship. Become a speaker, register online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello for additional information.


KEY HEARINGS, MEETINGS
House bills would create workplace headaches – hearings tomorrow
Tomorrow at 10 a.m., the House Commerce & Labor Committee will hold hearings on three bills employers will want to closely monitor. HB 2444, sponsored by Rep. Brendan Williams, D-Olympia, expands the state Family Leave Act to apply to all employers and all employees for the purposes of leave from work for a child’s educational events. HB 2764, sponsored by Rep. Steve Conway, D-Tacoma, is a reaction to the swine flu scare. It would prohibit employers from disciplining an employee who stays home or goes to the doctor with influenza-like symptoms.HB 2646, sponsored by Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, expands employer liability under the Department of Labor & Industry’s wage payment enforcement statute.A fourth bill, HB 2737, sponsored by Rep. Conway, which would have dramatically altered rest break practices in our state, was pulled from the hearing docket at the last minute.AWB will be pointing out concerns and problems with each of these bills. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft for more information.


Education and Training Committee meets Jan. 22
The next AWB Education and Training Committee meeting will be Friday, 10 a.m. – noon, at AWB. The Committee will discuss proposals before the Legislature and provide input to the business members of the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. For more information, contact AWB’s Amber Carter or Donna Steward.


PRIORITY LEGISLATION
AWB opposes drug take-back bill —House may take vote this week
HB 1165 and SB 5279 are described by their proponents as a way to protect children and the environment by safely collecting and disposing of unwanted drugs from residential sources. Unfortunately, the bills fail to recognize the many successful voluntary programs currently in place and place unnecessary and burdensome mandates on businesses through a manufacturer-funded product take-back program. AWB agrees about the need for safe collection and disposal of medicines, but supports the many successful voluntary efforts instead. HB 1165, which was in the House Rules Committee, has been moved to the floor calendar and may be voted on as early as this week. For more information, contact AWB’s Grant Nelson.


Greenhouse gas reporting heard in House and Senate, AWB testifies in support
HB 2545, sponsored by Rep. Dave Upthegrove, D-Burien, is the Department of Ecology’s greenhouse gas reporting legislation. AWB testified in favor of the bill last Tuesday in the House Ecology & Parks Committee. AWB also supported the Senate companion bill, SB 6373, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, when it was heard in the Environment, Water & Energy Committee on Friday. AWB is supportive of the legislation, which seeks to better align Washington state’s GHG reporting requirements with EPA’s reporting rule adopted last year. As drafted, however, the bill treats biomass emissions differently compared to EPA’s rule and AWB and member organizations are working with the department of Ecology and legislators to remedy that discrepancy. For more information, contact AWB’s Grant Nelson.


AWB supports measure to streamline land use permitting
Last Tuesday, AWB testified in favor of an important land use bill in the House Ecology & Parks Committee. HB 2538, sponsored by Rep. Dave Upthegrove, D-Burien, streamlines permitting under the State Environmental Policy Act, establishes incentives for higher densities within urban growth areas for residential and mixed-use developments, stimulates economic development and creates new jobs. Please urge your legislator to support this bill. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.


OTHER NEWS
Gordon sworn in as newest state legislator
Bellevue attorney Randy Gordon was sworn in last week as state senator in the 41^st legislative district. Gordon succeeds Fred Jarrett, who is now Deputy King County Executive under King County Executive Dow Constantine in Seattle.


Leiweke named Executive of the Year
The Puget Sound Business Journal has named sports executive Tod Leiweke its 2009 Executive of the Year. As CEO of AWB member Vulcan Sports and Entertainment, Leiweke manages the Seahawks, Sounders and Portland’s NBA Trail Blazers in addition to First and Goal, Inc., the company that runs Qwest Field and Event Center. Leiweke received this honor in large part due to his success in launching the Sounders Major League Soccer expansion club. Despite the recession, the Sounders have such appeal that the 430,000 fans the club attracted to its games during its first season significantly boosted attendance for the entire league. Read more in AWB’s Member Spotlight.


GoGreen conference aimed at helping businesses become more sustainable
GoGreen ’10, a one-day sustainability conference next spring 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.


AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
2010 Safety Academy
AWB has partnered with Sedgwick CMS to offer courses for safety and non-safety professionals who wish to increase their safety knowledge and effectiveness in developing and administering safety programs within their companies. Classes will be offered in Spokane, Seattle, Moses Lake and Olympia. Class listings and registration information is available online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello for additional information.


AWB members save up to 26 percent on UPS shipping!
AWB members can save time and money thanks to a new partnership with UPS! Save up to 26 percent on shipping costs with discounts on UPS Next Day Air^®, UPS Worldwide Express^SM and UPS 2nd Day Air A.M^®. Find out how to take advantage of these savings today by calling 800.325.7000 or click here to enroll in the program to begin receiving discounted rates! Be sure to identify yourself as an AWB member.


Still time to participate in AWB salary and benefits survey
AWB has partnered with WageAccess to provide you a survey that includes more than 900 benchmark positions in a wide variety of industries. This survey allows you to query, select and filter results by geographic location, industry and company size. The survey results also include a comprehensive set of descriptive statistics, compensation analysis tools and trends in salary and benefit administration. Sign up or learn more about the AWB survey here. If you have not yet participated in the survey, it's not too late. Since the survey results are updated quarterly, your data can still be included!


THEY SAID IT
“Despite our budget constraints, I believe we can and must encourage employers to start hiring and capitalize on new opportunities. We need to think creatively and act swiftly.” – Gov. Chris Gregoire


This Week's President's Perspective: America still leads the world in caring