TOP STORIES
Policy Summit starts tomorrow – but there’s still time to register!
AWB’s 21st annual
Policy Summit starts tomorrow at
Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine. You can still register for this great public policy gathering — this is an event you don’t want to miss! Prizes are bigger and better than ever at our golf tournament on one of the best courses in the Northwest. This year’s summit headline speakers include Gary Langer, longtime pollster for ABC News, and Matthew Bishop, New York bureau chief for The Economist. Panel discussions will examine education, health care, energy and much more. Don’t miss out –
register today. Rooms are limited. Also, you can follow the discussion before and during the event on Twitter (
@awbsummit). Even if you’re a Twitter novice, we’ve made it easy to
join in.
State faces up to 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts
Arun Raha, the state’s chief economist, said last Thursday that Washington will continue suffering a revenue shortfall because of the slow economy. For the 2009-11 biennium, Washington is
now projected to collect $770 million less than the June forecast. The
forecast means the state must significantly cut spending and likely lay off workers,
negatively impacting the state’s anemic job market. In response, Gov. Chris Gregoire will enact a 6.3 percent across-the-board budget cut now, and state government faces possible
10 percent budget cuts next year. Sen. Joseph Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, issued
a statement calling for a special session of the Legislature, saying lawmakers could make targeted cuts that the governor cannot.
A vote for I-1053 is a vote for fiscal responsibility
The (Vancouver) Columbian
came out in support Initiative 1053 over the weekend and issued a stinging critique of the Legislature in the process. The newspaper said it supports the measure, which seeks to restore the two-thirds vote requirement for the Legislature to raise taxes, because of “legislators’ refusal to perform” and their “unwillingness to step up to the plate and proffer innovative strategies to deal with record deficits.” It added: “The Legislature has failed so miserably in multiple budget crises that we now believe a strong message should be sent: Forget tax increases during a recession. I-1053 delivers that message.” Well said.
Contribute to the campaign today, and follow
Yes on I-1053 on
Facebook and
Twitter.
Seattle Times: Call I-1098 what it is – an income tax
The Seattle Times took backers of Initiative 1098 to task for the dishonest way they are soft-pedaling the fact that it would impose an income tax. In an
editorial, last Tuesday, the Times declared “The proponents of Initiative 1098 are pulling a fast one on voters by not calling I-1098 what it is: a tax increase. Proponents for the tax hike have puffed up their argument like piñatas full of cheap candy talking about two taxes the initiative would cut, hoping to blind voters to the big tax increases I-1098 supporters really want.” Join the movement to defeat I-1098 by making
your contribution. Follow the campaign to
Defeat 1098 on
Facebook and
Twitter.
New workers’ comp rates coming after election – Support Initiative 1082
The Department of Labor &Industries
announced last week that it
will wait until after the Nov. 2 election to propose 2011 workers’ compensation insurance rates, purportedly because officials are awaiting the outcome of
Initiative 1082, which could affect the rates. The Seattle Times said the agency was playing politics, however, and
called on it to release the numbers. Meanwhile, the Herald of Everett came out
strongly in support of I-1082, saying the measure – which would allow private insurance carriers to write workers’ compensation insurance – is needed. “There’s simply no compelling reason for Washington to be one of only four states where government holds a monopoly on workers’ comp insurance,” it said.
Contribute to I-1082 and follow the
I-1082 campaign on
Facebook and
Twitter, and check out the clever
new video in support of this important ballot measure.
U.S. Senate defeats measure to remove 1099 form requirement from health-care reform law
The U.S. Senate
defeated (46-52) a measure last week to remove a burdensome requirement in the health-care reform law requiring businesses to report all business-to-business purchases over $600 on a 1099 form. Although a handful of Democrats joined with Republicans to remove this needless requirement on employers, Washington’s Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell both voted against this measure.
Engage your employees in the election – Launch a workplace voter registration drive
Every vote will count in the Nov. 2 general election. The ballot is loaded with initiatives and candidate races that will greatly impact the state’s business community, for better or worse. It is important that your employees understand the stakes in this election and are registered to vote. Join with the hundreds of employers who are participating in
Workplace Voter Registration Drives. Enterprise Washington has everything you need to get started with a voter
registration table, an
e-mail drive, and talking points for a
staff meeting. The Statewide Workplace Voter Registration Drive is Sept. 27–Oct. 1. The deadline to register to vote by mail or online is Oct. 4.
Paul Trause chosen to head Employment Security Department
Former Labor and Industries Director Paul Trause
will take over as head of the Employment Security Department. Gov. Gregoire announced his appointment last Monday. Trause, who will replace Karen Lee at the end of September, led L&I from 2002 to 2005, and is currently ESD’s deputy commissioner, a position he also held from 2000 to 2002. Trause also served as acting secretary and deputy secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services from 1988 to 1993.
Environmentalists threaten greenhouse gas emissions lawsuit
The Washington Environmental Council and Sierra Club’s Cascade Chapter have given a
60-day notice of their intent to sue in federal court seeking regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from five oil refineries in Washington State. While the merits of the notice and intent to proceed forward with the suit have not been determined, if filed, the lawsuit could impact many Washington state businesses with air operating permits. At issue is whether the Department of Ecology is required to establish technology-based limits regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. For more information, contact AWB’s
Grant Nelson.
OTHER NEWS
New service simplifies reseller permit verification process
The Department of Revenue has created a new tool for businesses to verify their customers’ reseller permit information. The new
Reseller Permit Verification Service lets you check to see if your customers’ hold valid reseller permits. It also makes it easier to update your records. After you submit a compatible file, the Department will return current information about all of your customers’ reseller permits. The Legislature also made other reseller permit rule
changes this year. For more information,
e-mail or call a representative at 360. 902.7137, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES
AWB Welcomes Disney Institute to Seattle on Sept. 28
It doesn't take any training to recognize that the world's economy has taken a significant downturn. It does take effective and proven professional development training to guide impacted organizations back to the summit.A one-day local workshop, Disney’s Approach to Business Excellence program, is a rare and affordable opportunity to learn best business practices from Disney insiders. Organizations from across the nation have learned proven philosophies and implemented effective processes to reap the rewards of improvements in leadership, management, service, and brand loyalty. IMPORTANT: Please use promotional code
AWBMNE to receive $50 off per guest when registering.
To learn more and to register, go to
: http://www.keysseattlewa.com/.
No prerequisite training required.
2010 Safety Academy
New Employer Responsibilities to Provide Health Care Coverage: Who is Affected and How Webinar
The passage of federal health-care reform includes new responsibilities for individuals and all employers. While many of the responsibilities relate to coverage requirements for employers of certain sizes, there are several requirements for which employers of all sizes must comply. Join us Wednesday, Sept. 29, for this 60 minute webinar focuses on new coverage responsibilities by employer size, penalties for failing to meet coverage responsibilities and other potentially costly compliance requirements unrelated to coverage. To register for this webinar, please contact
Chana La Chapelle at 800.521.9325.
Wage and Hour Compliance: Is Your Business Ready? — Oct. 6
In April, the U.S. Department of Labor released a press release marking the beginning of the "We Can Help" nationwide campaign. The campaign will encourage employees to report wage and hour disputes to the department. The department's Wage and Hour Division agency is armed with 250 new investigators and plans to have 1,000 on board by the close of FY 2011 — representing an increase of approximately 50 percent over 2008 levels. The Wage and Hour Division is also partnering with other groups to identify and investigate employers on a nationwide versus local basis. Employers of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds and industries must prepare for this growing onset of wage/hour enforcement and litigation. Join us, on Wednesday, Oct. 6, in SeaTac, for this half day seminar to learn how to avoid the DOL's new employee misclassification crackdown and how to avoid crushing lawsuit errors.
Register online or contact AWB’s
Jennifer Costello.
OSHA 10-hour certification course in DuPont, Oct. 12-13
Get current on the latest in safety training and OSHA standards. Classes will be held Tuesday-Wednesday, Oct. 12-13, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the State Farm Education Center in DuPont. At completion of the course, you will receive an official course completion card from OSHA. This card will be useful during an inspection, as it demonstrates your efforts and commitment to voluntary compliance with all OSHA standards and regulations!
Register online or contact AWB’s
Jennifer Costello.
Truths About PCI Compliance Webinar
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 (PCI/DSS) 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. Fraud prevention has never been so critical and all merchants (regardless of business size) are required to adopt the security standards to prevent account information from falling into the wrong hands. Many merchants are not even aware these standards exist!
