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The Boeing Co. marked its 100th birthday on Friday with a big celebration at Boeing Field. The company is honoring its history and looking ahead at another century of innovation and growth. Observers, like The Seattle Times, say "one cannot overstate the profound influence" the company has had on the state and nation. Read more »
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Washington would have as many as 47,000 more jobs today if the Trans-Pacific Partnership had been implemented in 2015, according to a new study commissioned by AWB and the Washington Council on International Trade. Exports would be $8.7 billion higher today, according to the study, with particular benefits for agriculture, aerospace and computer software.
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The latest statewide initiative to drop off petition signatures before the July 8 deadline is Initiative 1464, a measure that would create a new tax as a way to publicly fund elections in Washington state. AWB opposed the measure because it would hurt small businesses, particularly those in border counties, and allows candidates to opt out of the public finance option. Initiative 1433, raising the statewide minimum wage to $13.50 per hour, also beat the deadline to drop off signatures. Read more »
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In a unanimous vote, the state Supreme Court announced last week it will hold a hearing Sept. 7 for oral arguments to address what remains to fulfill the McCleary education funding ruling. Issues include the cost associated with the obligations and what the state, via the Legislature, intends to do in 2017 to fully comply with the court ruling and the two state statutes that led to it. A decision to release the court's contempt order, or leave it in place, will also be decided based on the hearing.
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Incumbent Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Democratic challenger Tina Podlodowski will join AWB and Greater Spokane Incorporated for the Aug. 17 debate in Spokane, sponsored by Avista. Their debate will open an afternoon that will conclude with the gubernatorial debate between Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee and Republican challenger Bill Bryant. Tickets are limited, so reserve your spot today. Read more »
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The next meeting of the AWB Tax & Fiscal Policy Council will be 9:30 a.m. on July 28 at the PricewaterhouseCoopers office in Seattle.
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The state collected $67.4 million more tax revenues than expected over the past month. That's 4.7 percent above the forecast. It's the latest in a string of good news about the state economy and revenues.
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More than 4 million ballots went into the mail last week as Washington's primary election officially kicks off. The election will winnow down local and state races to the top two candidates, setting up the final electoral showdowns for the November general election. Read more »
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The new $165 million FedEx shipping facility in Fife will employ 300 people (and they are still hiring). At a ceremonial ribbon-cutting last week, officials saw how the facility can sort packages in fractions of a second and sort 18,000 parcels per hour.
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Providence, Swedish, PacMed and Kadlec health care providers will not accept Premera health insurance starting next year after negotiations between Providence St. Joseph Health and Premera Blue Cross broke down last week. The change could affect around a half-million people when it takes effect Jan. 1, 2017. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama is calling for a full public option in an expanded "Obamacare 2.0."
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Beyond the cost of paying taxes, simply complying with complex tax law costs our economy. A new study by the Tax Foundation has tallied the expense, and it's substantial. Americans will spend 8.9 billion hours complying with IRS tax filing requirements this year, costing the economy $409 billion in compliance costs alone.
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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory continues to help lead energy efficiency efforts that saved Americans nearly $65 billion in 2015 alone. From new LED technology to new ways of cutting heat loss through windows, PNNL is helping America become more energy efficient.
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As more customers drive -- and charge -- electric vehicles, Avista is researching how the demands on its power supply will change. To help understand what's ahead, the company is installing 272 electric vehicle charging stations around Eastern Washington. Read more »
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As America and Washington focus on reducing carbon emissions, it's important to recognize the crucial contributions we still need from hydroelectric dams, nuclear power and natural gas power production. Attempts to move away from these vital baseload power sources are misguided, two PUD managers write in the Tri-City Herald. Read more »
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Washington state needs more graduates skilled in science and technology. To help students learn these vital skills, Bank of America will give $200,000 to the Technology Access Foundation and its TAF Academy in Kent. That's in addition to a recent Bank of America donation of $415,000 for Puget Sound nonprofits focused on education and workforce development.
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AWB recently met with Tristan Allen, the new private industry program manager for the state's Emergency Management Division. Read more »
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How should employers react to the vote by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union? K&L Gates will hold a free conference call to discuss the impact of Brexit on business. Read more »
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All employers in Washington state are required to create a written Accident Prevention Plan or Program (APP). AWB Government Affairs Director Bob Battles will outline the requirements for compliance with the Department of Labor & Industries at the Aug. 10 employment law webinar. Continuing education credits are available for these webinars. Register today.
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The annual AWB Regional Meetings have been scheduled around the state Aug. 16-29. This is a chance to hear from the Government Affairs Team and ask questions, share ideas and participate in candidate interviews.
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Without realizing it, many companies fail to fully comply with the increasingly stringent safety laws for forklifts and other power industrial trucks. Are you in compliance or are you breaking the law? Proper forklift safety training will make your company a safer place to work and keep you in compliance with the law. AWB's forklift safety seminar Sept. 1 will help your company be in compliance and a safer place to work. Register today! Read more »
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Employers need to know how federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, and state rules complement and differ from each other. The two-day seminar Sept. 27-28 will give business owners and managers the information and tools they need to communicate hazards better with employees, prevent accidents, how to comply with new global harmonization system rules for chemicals in the workplace, and more. Registration for the course is now open. Read more »
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As the 2016 election heats up, a little comic relief will help lighten the mood. Comedian, television personality and radio commentator Dennis Miller will bring a humorous take on politics to AWB's Policy Summit. Registrations are now open for the three-day Policy Summit, Sept. 13-15 at Suncadia Resort. Read more »
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Meet with national leaders during AWB's D.C. fly-in Dec. 5-7. AWB's government affairs team will lead the trip to the nation's capitol, including congressional visits, meetings with federal agencies and the new administration. It will also include a Washington state grand reception, a candlelight tour of the Capitol and more. Read more »
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There is still time to join the state's premier leadership development program -- Leadership Washington. The deadline to apply to be part of the Leadership Washington class of 2017 has been extended to July 31. Watch the latest graduates talk about the program, download an application and click here to learn more about this growing program. Read more »
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"We helped build Boeing, and Boeing helped build our communities." ~ The editorial board of The Herald, detailing how The Boeing Co.'s ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit -- combined with dedicated Washington employees and wise state investments, helped create an ongoing economic benefit for the region.
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| Get to Know the Candidates, Issues |
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By AWB President Kris Johnson
As I've traveled the state the last few months as part of the Association of Washington Business's small-business listening tour, I've noticed campaign signs for nearly every race and political persuasion, from president to county precinct officer.
It's tempting in this era of divided politics to dismiss the signs as visual clutter, and to dismiss the races they represent as irrelevant for our daily lives.
Nothing could be further from the truth, particularly if you own or manage a business.
This November, voters will not only cast ballots for the high-profile positions of president and governor, but they will decide on a several ballot initiatives that will directly impact employers, including whether to raise the statewide minimum wage, whether to impose a new carbon tax and whether to create publicly state political campaigns.
It's worth taking the time to understand the issues...
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Click here to read the full column in The Wenatchee World
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By The Seattle Times Editorial Board
Dividends from public support and investments in the company are immeasurable. For instance, it's no coincidence that top software companies grew up alongside Boeing, Seattle's original and biggest high-tech venture.
Boeing has kept Seattle on the leading edge of technology since its inception. ... Really, Boeing has provided the ingredients needed to produce generations of successful entrepreneurs.
Through ups and downs, Boeing jobs have been a cornerstone of the Puget Sound region's middle class. |
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Click here to read the full editorial in The Seattle Times
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