Olympia Business Watch

Governor's office bracing for half billion dollar revenue shortfall

Victor Moore, budget director for Gov. Chris Gregoire, told a meeting of the AWB's Governmental Affairs Council Wednesday that he's preparing for a shortfall of at least $500 million when the state's quarterly revenue forecast is released Thursday.

"That's kind of my low-end number on the damage tomorrow," Moore told the group.

The expected decline in revenue combined with a large rise in demand for social services could require the Legislature to hold a special session later this year, something that neither Moore nor Marty Brown, the governor‘s legislative liaison,is excited about.

Caseloads for Medicaid and general assistance have increased significantly as the economy has worsened, raising costs by "hundreds of millions," Moore said. "More people qualify for Medicaid and general assistance," he said.

Officials are making various contingency plans based on the size of the revenue decline, but the governor is limited by law in the ways she can adjust spending, Moore said.

Broetje Orchards named 2009 Bruce Briggs Award winner

Don Brunell, president of the Association of Washington Business, traveled to Eastern Washington this week to deliver the organization's annual Bruce A. Briggs Award to Ralph and Cheryl Broetje, founders of Broetje Orchrds.

The award, named for the late Olympia nursery owner, is presented to an AWB member who continues to give back to his or her community.

The Broetjes do that and then some.

The couple started with arid land along the banks of the Snake River near Prescott and built one of the largest privately owned orchards in the world.

In the process, they also built a community complete with housing for the company's workforce as well as a daycare and schooling for the workers' children.

Olympia Business Review - Episode 19: Brunell’s view on Washington aerospace study.

Don Brunell, president of the Association of Washington Business, gives his perspective on the Deloitte Consulting aerospace competitiveness study. According to the findings, aerospace investments are bypassing Washington state for the more cost-competitive states like the Carolinas, Kansas and Texas. The study cites strikes, high workers compensation and unemployment insurance costs, a lack of coordinated worker training and education programs and infrastructure as the main reasons why aerospace companies are not coming to Washington state.

Key words: aerospace, economy, unemployment insurance, workers compensation, competitiveness, worker training, education, unionization, union relations.

To subscribe via iTunes, click here. 

To subscribe to the RSS feed, click here.

To download this podcast, click here.

AWB Action Alert: Attend This Weekend’s Town Hall Meetings

Tell Them Higher Business Taxes Jeopardize Jobs

This Friday and Saturday, members from the House and Senate will return to their legislative districts to hold town hall meetings with constituents. The conversations should quickly turn to the budget and how legislators plan to resolve the $8 billion state deficit.

 It’s imperative that you take a moment to call your senator and representatives — or better yet, attend their town hall meetings in person. Tell them how higher business taxes will put your company and your employees at risk.

Olympia Business Review - Episode 18: 2009 Midsession Legislative Review (Podcast)

In episode 18 of the Olympia Business Review, host Dan Brunell is joined by Don Brunell (AWB president) and Gary Chandler (AWB VP of governmental affairs) to discuss the first half of the 2009 legislative session. They also discuss some of the topics which will define this session.

Issues covered: Budget, taxes, environment, cap and trade, energy, unemployment insurance, conformity, card check, unionization, gage rule

To subscribe via iTunes, click here. 

To subscribe to the RSS feed, click here.

To download this podcast, click here.

Lobby Lunch Series 2009 - #3: State Chief Economist Dr. Arun Raha

AWB Communications Vice President Jocelyn McCabe sat down today with Dr. Arun Raha, Washington state's chief economist and executive director of the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. During today's podcast interview, they discussed the current economic slowdown and its effect on Washington state.

You can also download Dr. Raha's presentation from today's Lobby Lunch.

Issues covered: revenue,economy,budget, federal stimulus

To subscribe via iTunes, click here. 

To subscribe to the podcast's RSS feed, click here.

To download this podcast, click here.

Better Workplace Awards: 21 companies with 'a better way'

Looking for a company that's found a better way to provide a family-friendly workplace? Tackle worker safety? Train its employees?

Yesterday, as part of AWB's Legislative Day in Olympia, 21 businesses from around the state received awards for finding a better way to solve those workplace challenges. You can read more about the awards and the award winners on the AWB Web site, but it's worth giving them another mention online. Attorney General Rob McKenna and AWB Chair Jack McRae helped congratulate the winners during yesterday's luncheon, including:

WORKPLACE SAFETY

• Cascade Gasket & Manufacturing (Kent)
• TransCanada (Spokane)
• Cintas (Issaquah)
• Clark Nuber (Bellevue)
• Canyon Creek Cabinet Company (Monroe)
• Valley Medical Center (Renton)
• Fluor Hanford (Richland)
• Honeywell Redmond (redmond)
• Pacific Power (Yakima)

JOB TRAINING AND ADVANCEMENT

• Andelcare (Bellevue)
• Fast Transact (Lacey)
• Pacific Crest Industries (Sumner)
• Port Townsend Paper Corporation (Port Townsend)
• Columbia Analytical Services, Inc. (Kelso)
• Volt Workforce Solutions (Federal Way)
• Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (Pullman)
• University Mechanical Contractors, Inc. (Mukilteo)

INNOVATIVE BENEFIT AND COMPENSATION PROGRAMS

• Group Services Northwest (Tacoma)
• Cascade Gasket & Manufacturing (Kent)
• McCarthy Finance, Inc. (Lynnwood) 
• Wacom Technology Corporation (Vancouver)
• Lane Powell, PC (Seattle)

C-SPAN2 to Air AWB Gubernatorial Debate

Washington state's gubernatorial race will be going national tonight. The folks at C-SPAN 2 will be airing the feed of last week's debate between Gov. Chris Gregoire and former Sen. Dino Rossi at AWB's Policy Summit tonight at 7 p.m. PST/10 p.m. EST and again at 11 p.m. PST/2 a.m. EST.

Thanks again to TVW for their coverage of all of last week's debates in Blaine. Check out their Web site for a complete viewing schedule of all of the events from the 19th Annual AWB Policy Summit. 

AWB Urges Congressional Delegation to Support Bailout Plan

AWB President Don Brunell today urged members of Washington state's congressional delegation to support the bailout plan currently awaiting passage in the nation's capital. Said Brunell of the measure:

“Swift action is critical. Washington businesses are paralyzed by the uncertainty in the economy. The tax receipts that fund our federal, state and local governments and their ability to fund education and public safety are at risk over the constricting credit markets and the lack of confidence in the stock markets.

 

“The financial well-being of all our members and all Washingtonians hinges on a resolution to the financial crisis. We urge you to act immediately."

You can view the full text of the letter here.

Catch the Debates on TVW!

AWB was fortunate to have the support of TVW during last week's 19th Annual Policy Summit at Semiahmoo. Their staff is in the process of adding them to their Web site for viewing online or on TV. Here's the current programming line-up:

• Tuesday, September 30^th: OSPI debate (7:45 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.)
• Wednesday, October 1^st: OSPI debate (1:45 a.m., 7:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.); Gregoire/Rossi debate (7 p.m.)
• Friday, October 3^rd:  AG debate (9 p.m.)
• Saturday, October 4^th:  OSPI debate (7:45 p.m.); Gregoire/Rossi debate (11 p.m.)
• Sunday, October 5th: OSPI debate (7:45 a.m.) 

Besides the debates, here are other air dates/times of other AWB Policy Summit coverage: 

• Tuesday, September 30^th: “Local Political Climate” panel (8:45 p.m.)
• Thursday, October 2^nd:  Ron Brownstein presentation (9:30 p.m.)
• Saturday, October 4^th:  “Local Political Climate” panel (8:45 p.m.)
• Sunday, October 5^th:  Ron Brownstein presentation (10:30 p.m.)

Thanks again to TVW and their staff for support of this event.