TOP STORIES
AWB members say Initiative 1098 would hurt small business, job growth
New jobs and reinvestment in business are likely to be the first casualties of a new state income tax if voters approve Initiative 1098 this fall. That’s according to an AWB survey of employers released last week. Employers expect the proposal would result in significant cuts in hiring and reinvestment. Overall, 33 percent plan to decrease hiring and salaries, and 47 percent expect to decrease reinvestment. In addition to creating a less stable revenue system, a state income tax would make it more difficult to recruit businesses to Washington, a fact not lost on the state’s own Department of Commerce. It touts Washington’s lack of an income tax in its appeal for companies to choose Washington. Help Defeat 1098 with your monetary contributions and your vote against this initiative in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Keep up with the campaign to defeat the measure via Facebook and Twitter (@defeat1098).


AWB’s Regional Membership Meetings, candidate interviews start tomorrow
It’s not too late to RSVP for AWB’s Regional Membership Meetings and candidate interviews. These important meetings begin this week with a gathering tomorrow in Tacoma, followed by meetings in Vancouver and Bellevue. The meetings, which continue through the middle of September, not only give you a chance to meet with legislators, but are also an important part of AWB’s candidate endorsement process. Meetings are scheduled for:

· Aug. 31 — Tacoma (regional meeting and candidate interviews)
· Sept. 1 — Vancouver (regional meeting and candidate interviews)
· Sept. 2 — Bellevue (regional meeting and candidate interviews)
· Sept. 3 — Olympia (candidate interviews only)
· Sept. 7 — Aberdeen (candidate interviews only)
· Sept. 8 — Spokane (regional meeting and candidate interviews)
· Sept. 9 — Tri-Cities (regional meeting only)
· Sept. 9 — Yakima (regional meeting only)
· Sept. 9 — Gig Harbor (candidate interviews only)
· Sept. 10 — Moses Lake (regional meeting only
· Sept. 10 — Puyallup (candidate interviews only)
· Sept. 13 — Seattle (candidate interviews only)
· Sept. 14 — Mount Vernon (regional meeting and candidate interviews)
· Sept. 15 — Mountlake Terrace (regional meeting and candidate interviews)

 

Detailed information, including times, specific locations and agendas, is available on AWB’s events calendar. RSVP to AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at 800.521.9325.


Initiative 1053 offers voters chance to shape lawmakers’ agenda
The Washington Policy Center has released a Citizens' Guide to Initiative 1053 that examines the measure in detail, including a look at Washington’s long history with the two-thirds vote requirement. The guide also compares our state’s supermajority requirement with other states, and it discredits the notion that California voters want to abolish the two-thirds vote requirement to raise taxes, a main argument of I-1053 opponents. It concludes by stating that I-1053 provides voters with a rare opportunity to tell lawmakers with clarity where they should focus their attention. “Passage of Initiative 1053 would clearly communicate the intent of voters that state spending should be reduced and tax increases taken off the table,” the guide states. You can show your support for I-1053 and keep up with the campaign information via Facebook and Twitter.


Time to reform Workers’ Comp – Support I-1082
Washington’s industrial insurance system is broken and in desperate need of reform, but lawmakers – feeling pressure from labor unions and trial lawyers – have steadfastly refused to act. Their inaction is the reason employers are lining up behind Initiative 1082, a measure that Washington Business magazine explores in the cover story of the current issue. Read up on the initiative, and then follow the I-1082 campaign on Facebook and Twitter (@saveourjobswa).


Get on waiting list for Policy Summit at Semiahmoo
Semiahmoo Resort has sold out of rooms for AWB’s 21st annual Policy Summit, on Sept. 21-23, but it’s not too late to add your name to the waiting list. Don’t miss your chance to attend Washington’s premier public policy summit, and to play a round of golf on one of the Northwest’s great courses. To get on the waiting list, contact AWB’s Chana LaChapelle. If you’ve already booked your room, please be sure to register for the summit. You can follow discussions before and during the summit on Twitter (@awbsummit).


Employers speak out with AWB’s ‘We Mean Business’ campaign
There are now more than 31 million unemployed Americans, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In a series of postcards and advertisements in local business journals, AWB’s “We Mean Business” campaign reminds lawmakers and voters that employers won’t be able to reverse the trend and begin hiring again in significant numbers until the state’s business climate improves. Join us: Donate online today to this important effort to build support for those who create jobs in our state.


Washington ranks near the bottom in Race to the Top
Washington finished 32nd out of 36 in the competition for federal Race to the Top funding, signaling that the state as lots of work ahead. Washington’s application request wasfor $250 million – the maximum amount the state is able to receive. One reason it was rejected is that Washington does not allow charter schools.Another, the Legislature failed to stiffen our academic testing requirements.And damaging across-the-board budget cuts to education are on the way, making matters even worse in Washington’s public schools, because Gov. Chris Gregoire refused to call a special session to deal with the state’s budget. “Now is the time to recommit to education,” said Randy Dorn, state Superintendent of Public Instruction, “not to run away from it.”


Manufacturing Summit, Sept. 14-15 – Register now!
Greg Weeks, labor market and economic analysis director of the Employment Security Department, and Tom Murphy, McGladrey’s executive vice president of manufacturing and wholesale distribution, are the featured speakers at the Manufacturing Summit, a program focused on the manufacturing and wholesale distribution industry, sponsored by the AWB Institute and McGladrey. Register now for complimentary programs in Olympia (Tuesday, Sept. 14) or Lynnwood (Wednesday, Sept. 15). Both run from 7:30 – 10:30 a.m.


AWB closed for Labor Day holiday
A reminder that AWB offices will be closed next Monday for the Labor Day holiday. The next edition of Fast Facts will be published Tuesday, Sept. 7.


KEY HEARINGS, MEETINGS
AWB representing employers at Joint Tax Avoidance Review Committee
In addition to raising taxes last session, the Legislature established a Joint Tax Review Committee. The committee oversees the Department of Revenue’s implementation of tax avoidance policy. AWB wants clear advice for taxpayers on how to keep themselves clear of tax avoidance claims from the department. In view of the lack of advice from the department on how taxpayers can stay within the law, AWB believes the state should not be able to enforce the law beyond examples previously given to lawmakers. AWB members are very concerned about this issue, as reflected in the more than 55 members who attended the last Tax and Fiscal Policy Council meeting. The Joint Tax Review Committee next meets Sept. 20. For more information, contact AWB’s Amber Carter.


Final approval of legislative objectives at GAC meeting, Sept. 17
AWB’s Government Affairs Council will finalize all legislative objectives on Friday, Sept. 17, at AWB, 9 a.m. – noon. For more information, contact AWB’s Connie Grande.


OTHER NEWS
Tell us how health-care reform impacts your business
In order to help us better understand how employers are impacted by the federal health-care reform law, AWB has assembled a short online poll. Please take a moment and share your feedback.


Electronic tolling is coming to 520 – Are you ready?
In the spring of 2011, all-electronic tolling will begin on the Highway 520 Bridge in Seattle to help pay for the construction of a new, safer bridge. Good To Go! electronic tolling uses technology to keep traffic moving with no toll booths, stopping or slowing down. Tolls will be collected in two ways: as vehicles drive under an electronic sensor, the toll will be automatically deducted from a prepaid account. Or, if the driver does not have a prepaid account, a photo will be taken of the vehicle’s license plate, and a bill will be sent to the registered owner in the mail. You can get ready for all-electronic tolling on the Highway 520 Bridge by joining the interest list at http://www.goodtogo520.org/, and being among the first to sign up for a Good to Go! pass in January 2011. For more information, contact 888.G2G.WSDOT.


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.


Member Spotlight: DocuSign is top e-signature provider – and growing
DocuSign, an AWB member since 2009, is a major player in the growing market for electronic signatures. With a unique Web-based system that does not require users to download new software, DocuSign allows clients to send and sign documents with the same legal standing as paper contracts. It now has 70 percent of the electronic signature market. Share your company’s good news with AWB’s Paul Schlienz.


Nominations under way for workforce, economic development leaders
The Workforce Board and Department of Commerce are accepting nominations for the 2010 Governor's Best Practices Awards in Economic and Workforce Development. The annual Governor's Award for Best Practices in Workforce and Economic Development brings statewide recognition to projects and programs that have achieved positive results — particularly achievements that create family-wage jobs, encourage innovation, and promote an environmentally healthy economy — to both the field of workforce and economic development. Deadline is Friday, Sept. 10.


September is National Preparedness Month
September will be National Preparedness and NOAA Weather Radio Awareness Month in Washington. Special events are scheduled to enable residents across the state to participate in a month-long observance, designed to focus individuals and businesses on preparing for disasters and emergencies. These events include the launch of the new Help 9-1-1, Help You! What’s Your Location campaign to remind residents and children of the importance of knowing their address and location when they call 9-1-1 (Saturday, Sept. 11), a statewide earthquake drill (10:15 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 15) and a Tsunami Warning Communications Test for the All Hazard Alert Broadcast sirens in the outer coastal counties. The drill will be initiated through the Emergency Alert System using the Required Monthly Test for broadcasters. More information is available from the Washington Emergency Management Division or by contacting Rosanne Garrand at (253) 512-7419.


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. You can find class listings and registration information online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello for additional information.


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.


THEY SAID IT
The state's economy is struggling to find traction, with very limited success to date. The last thing Washington needs at this critical time is a new tax tailor-made to give prospective employers incentive to look elsewhere. – The (Longview) Daily News editorial opposing I-1098


This Week's President's Perspective: The forgotten tax that haunts family-owned businesses