OLYMPIA — The Association of Washington Business awarded 48 legislators with the coveted 2008 Cornerstone Award for their efforts to support the business community. AWB gives the award to legislators who vote for business-friendly legislation and vote against legislation that would further erode the state’s competitiveness.
“The Cornerstone Award is our way of thanking those legislators who believe in competitiveness, economic growth and job creation,” AWB President Don Brunell said. In order to receive the award, legislators must vote in support of the business community more than 80 percent of the time.
“Washington needs legislators who understand how important competitiveness is to the success of our state,” Brunell said. “The recipients of this award not only understand this concept, they work diligently to ensure that Washington is good place to conduct business, that businesses incur a smaller amount of the tax burden, and that we keep jobs in the state.”
AWB presented the Cornerstone Awards at regional board meetings held across the state.
The recipients of the 2008 Cornerstone Awards include:
Rep. John Ahern, R-Spokane
Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia
Rep. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City
Rep. Mike Armstrong, R-Wenatchee
Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor
Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger
Rep. Cary Condotta, R-East Wenatchee
Rep. Larry Crouse, R-Spokane Valley
Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis
Rep. Jim Dunn, R-Bush Prairie
Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Bellingham
Rep. Steve Hailey, R-Mesa
Rep. Larry Haler, R-Richland
Rep. Jaime Herrera, R-Ridgefield
Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum
Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda
Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish
Rep. Jim McCune, R-Graham
Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside
Rep. Ed Orcutt, R- Kalama
Rep. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe
Rep. Skip Priest, R-Federal Way
Rep. Dan Roach, R-Bonney Lake
Rep. Jay Rodne, R-Snoqualmie
Rep. Charles Ross, R-Naches
Rep. Lynn Schindler, R-Otis Orchards
Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax
Rep. Mary Skinner, R-Yakima
Rep. Norma Smith, R-Langley
Rep. Bob Sump, R-Republic
Rep. Maureen Walsh, R-Walla Walla
Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake
Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver
Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood
Sen. Jerome Delvin, R-Richland
Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla
Sen. Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake
Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside
Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima
Sen. Bob McCaslin, R-Veradale
Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls
Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee
Sen. Cheryl Pflug, R-Issaquah
Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn
Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville
Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch
Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington
Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester
Sen. Joseph Zarelli, R-Ridgefield
AWB is Washington's oldest and largest statewide business association. Formed in 1904, its 6,600 members employ more than 650,000 workers. AWB also is the state chamber of commerce and the umbrella organization for more than 130 trade and professional organizations. While AWB's membership includes the states major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, more than 85 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people and one-third of our members hire fewer than 10.
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