Annual award honors current, former legislators
OLYMPIA—Former state Sen. Dino Rossi, R-Sammamish, has been selected by the Association of Washington Business (AWB) to receive its 2008 Jim Matson Award. The award recognizes a current or former state legislator who consistently supports issues important to Washington’s employers and the state’s competitiveness.
“Dino Rossi’s selection as the 2008 Jim Matson Award winner is in keeping with the long tradition of past recipients who, over the years, have been consistent supporters of employers and making sure our state is competitive when it comes to jobs and the economy,” said AWB President Don C. Brunell. “Our members recognize his leadership on the 2003 state budget when he was chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and worked with Governor Locke to implement the Priorities and Price of Government (POG) program.
“Using the POG, the Legislature and Governor prioritized state spending and no major tax increases resulted, even though there was a $2.7 billion revenue shortfall if the state continued its approach to spending heading into the 2003-05 biennium. It was a time much similar to 2008 when our state’s economy was slow.”
The Matson Award is the highest honor a legislator can receive from AWB, Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association. The award was established to honor the late Sen. Jim Matson, R-Selah, who was a veteran state legislator and AWB member. Matson also served on the AWB’s Executive Committee during the 1970s and 1980s.
Previous Matson Award winners include:
2007 Rep. Bill Grant, D-Walla Walla
2006 Sen. Bob Morton, R-Orient
2005 Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside
2004 Sen. Dan McDonald, R-Bellevue
2003 Sen. Jim West, R-Spokane
2002 Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch
2001 Rep. Gary Chandler, R-Moses Lake
2000 Rep. Barb Lisk, R-Zillah
1999 Rep. Tom Huff, R-Gig Harbor
1998 Sen. Ann Anderson, R-Acme
1997 Sen. George Sellar, R-Wenatchee
1996 Sen. Irv Newhouse, R-Mabton
1995 Speaker Clyde Ballard, R-Wenatchee
Representatives from the Association will make a formal presentation of the award at AWB’s Policy Summit on Sept. 24-26 at Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine.
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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 state’s major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, more than 85 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people and one-third of its members hire fewer than 10.
