Olympia Business Watch

Brunell: New federal regulations will boost the cost of gas -- again

President Obama wants to invest more than $20 billion on roads, bridges, highways and ports as a way to stimulate economic growth. At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency announced new mileage standards and air quality rules that could raise the price of gas as much as 9 cents per gallon.

It's as if one part of the federal government was trying to rescue a floundering economy while another part tosses it a concrete block, AWB President Don Brunell writes in his weekly column.

"With our teetering economy, it's vital that Congress and the Obama administration carefully weigh any benefit of new regulations against their impact," Brunell writes.

State lawmakers play a role, as well.

Washington legislators want to increase the state's gas tax 10 cents per gallon, a move that would bring the total of state and federal taxes to 65.9 cents -- third highest in the nation.

There is no question that Washington needs additional money to repair roads, bridges and highways, Brunell writes. But how the gas tax is structured -- and how the money is spent -- will determine whether it harms or helps our economy.

Brunell: GPS needs to control our skies, too

The GPS unit in your car is more advanced than the technology used by air traffic controllers.

That's something to think about the next time you're on a commercial airliner, AWB President Don Brunell writes in his weekly column.

It doesn't have to stay this way. Congress approved a new GPS air traffic control system known as NextGen in 2003, but it has yet to be fully implemented, partly because of the cost -- $40 billion -- and also due to bureaucracy.

Nevertheless, it's an investment well worth making, Brunell writes. Congestion and weather delays tied to the limitations of radar cost airlines and consumers almost $10 billion last year.

Some airlines are moving ahead. Alaska Airlines is using GPS to assist with landing at Juneau International Airport, and the company said it prevented 729 flight cancellations last year.

"This is an opportunity for the FAA to demonstrate that it understands the importance of efficiency, precise information and a timely response," Brunell writes, "in our air traffic control system and in our federal bureacracy."

Private sector steps up to promote Washington tourism

Washington state is poised to get out of the tourism promotion business, but the private sector is stepping up to fill the void.

It's only fair, AWB President Don Brunell writes in his weekly column. After all, employers have often called on government to change the way it works, to think outside the box.

Washington's budget shortfall is driving the change.The governor's proposed 2011-13 budget calls for the elimination of the Washington State Tourism office by June 30, and House Ways & Means Chair Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, released a supplemental budget that would end funding for tourism promotion three months earlier.

That's why George Schweitzer, chief operating officer of Red Lion Hotels, is working with others to create an alliance of industries that directly benefit from tourism to pay to promote Washington.

They understand that tourism is too important to our state's economy to allow its promotion to wither because of budget cuts.