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Summer 2010

Can you think of anything better on a hot summer day than a nice cool microbrew or a crisp Washington chardonnay?

These two popular industries — craft brewing and wine — served as the inspiration for a pair of articles in this issue.

When lawmakers imposed a tax on domestic beer this past legislative session, it set off a debate in Olympia that only Homer Simpson could love. That got writer Jason Hagey thinking about microbrewers in our state and what, exactly constitutes a “Washington state” beer these days.

“Craft brewing is definitely a niche market, and lawmakers set out to protect it,” said Hagey. “But the law of unintended consequences might come back to haunt them.”

Paul Schlienz, meanwhile, was examining a little-known subset of the state’s burgeoning wine industry. These days, most folks know how incredible Washington’s wines are. But few know about companies like CorkWest, the folks who supply one of the most important elements of winemaking to vintners: the corks. Despite the trend toward screw tops, the centuries-old cork still may be the best way to preserve wine.

One topic that pairs well with all beverages is, of course, politics. And this summer, there’s plenty to talk about. A record number of ballot measures were filed this year— 79 according to the Secretary of State — and dozens of veteran legislators decided to call it a career. That’s made for a very lively summer campaign season.

AWB has been actively involved in a number of the ballot races, including Initiative 1082, the workers’ compensation measure. Fed up with repeated stonewalling on the issue in Olympia, employers are taking their frustration to the people this fall with a request to privatize workers’ compensation insurance. Although it’s just one element of a much needed-system overhaul, most of AWB’s members feel it’s a necessary first step toward reform. Getting on the ballot was a big accomplishment. Now it’s a matter of showing Washington voters the value of this effort.

Elsewhere in this issue: Find out what makes State Auditor Brian Sonntag so interested in running for governor. And two lawmakers tell us just why we should – or shouldn’t —require a two-thirds majority vote to raise taxes.

Summer reading? We’ve got you covered.
Cheers.

View the Summer 2010