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Home / Washington Business - January 2006 / 2006 Could Be a Refreshing Year |
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2006 Could Be a Refreshing Year |
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Written On: January 2006 |
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Written By: by Alexis Nepomuceno |
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Washington's 2006 Legislative Session gets underway soon, and the business community anxiously braces for either a painful or a passable year. Unfortunately, such an attitude has become the norm for private-sector job providers. Wouldn't it be a refreshing change if businesses eagerly awaited a session that could mean more incentives to grow, hire additional people and even make a profit?
There is a perception held by many in the business community that the Legislature is not on their side. This is an image policymakers must work to repair, and this is where a united voice can prove to be most effective. As AWB Chair Creigh Agnew writes in her column, A United Business Community Has a Powerful Voice (page 14), history demonstrates that businesses are most effective when working from a common agenda.
One of the issues where job-providers will need to unite is government mandates. Government Mandates Are Not the Solution to Outsourcing (page 16) by AWB President Don Brunell, points out that lawmakers need to repeal some existing government requirements before trying to fix problems with more mandates. The column describes how legislators will try to address outsourcing by restricting state purchases to in-state products and services.
Department of Labor & Industries Director Gary Weeks offers insight on workers' compensation through his Q&A (page 22). Employers wanting to educate themselves on workers' comp will find some needed answers in this article.
However, the biggest question asked this month is in Paul Schlienz's feature article To Spend or Not to Spend? (page 24). Schlienz talked with the governor and key legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle to provide employers with an exclusive preview of what to expect in 2006. His informative article describes the prospects for the 2003 unemployment reforms, how the defeat of I-912 puts the spotlight on the transportation issue, and what employers need to do to fight another round of health care mandates.
Another issue job providers will need to keep a close eye on is private property rights. AWB Governmental Affairs Director Chris McCabe points out that the "...Growth Management Act is ripe for reform given recent actions by private property advocates" and the governor's 2006 legislative package. Fighting for Private Property Rights (page 33) examines the political and legal landscapes framing this topic for 2006.
Finally, Pay or Play Can Really Hurt (page 37) by AWB Governmental Affairs Director Mellani McAleenan describes the grim realities facing employers regarding health care and potentially radical steps being considered by lawmakers. One of these job killers is the "pay-or-play" issue, which McAleenan writes "...hurts businesses that already provide insurance" because they will still get taxed if they do not meet "an arbitrary payroll percentage." Again, another new mandate proposed by the Legislature.
The 2006 session promises to be a lot of things for private-sector job providers in Washington. Unfortunately, the "To spend or not to spend?" question being asked by politicians at the beginning of the year may also be followed up with the question "To stay or not to stay (in the state)?" at the end of the year by employers.
Stay in touch through AWB’s Fast Facts and Web site, www.awb.org.
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