Monday, March 30, 2015

Tell Your Legislators About Higher Taxes, Raising Wages and More Leave



Legislators Need to Hear from You! 

Your voice needs to be heard on the $1.5 billion in new and higher taxes, including a $570 million capital gains tax that was incorporated in the 2015-17 House operating budget unveiled Friday (HB 2224). The plan spends $38.8 billion, which represents a 13 percent increase in spending, despite state tax revenue collections projected to be $3 billion, or a 9 percent increase, for the same period.

Let your state representatives know what you think of their plan to raise taxes. Please consider testify on the budget tomorrow, March 30 at 1:30 p.m., send a letter to your House members using this link and/or comment on the 2015-17 state budget bill online at this link.

The new and increased taxes in the 2015-17 House budget include.
  • A new 5 percent capital gains tax on the sales of stocks and other assets, including homes, totaling $570 million;
  •  Increase B&O tax rate on services to 1.8 percent - a 20 percent increase;
  •  Repeal of B&O Tax preference for travel agents;
  •  Repeal of sales tax exemption for bottled water;
  • Repeal of B&O Tax preference for prescription drug sellers;
  • Repeal of B&O Tax preference for royalties;
  • Repeal of use tax exemption for extracted fuel;
  •  "Mainstreet Fairness" nexus, or collection of B&O or sales tax on Internet purchases; and
  • Limit the Real Estate Excise Tax foreclosure exemption.
The Association of Washington Business (AWB) has scheduled a meeting for Monday, March 30 at 11:30 AM to discuss the proposed budget. The meeting is at AWB, 1414 Cherry Street in Olympia and is available by conference call by contacting Conniegr@awb.org if you are an AWB member. 

In addition, the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee has the following items on their public hearing agenda next week. The meeting will be held in Senate Hearing Rm 4, J.A. Cherberg Building, Capitol Campus, Olympia, WA.

Work Session
1.       Minimum wage.
Public Hearing
Each of these measures was passed by the House on a party line vote earlier this month. This is an excellent opportunity to contact your legislator.

UPDATE #1: 3-30-2015
1355 = Summary of Bill: The state minimum hourly wage is increased to $12 over the course of
four years, as follows:
·         beginning January 1, 2016 – $10.00;
·         beginning January 1, 2017 – $10.50;
·         beginning January 1, 2018 – $11.00;
·         beginning January 1, 2019 – $12.00; and
·         beginning January 1, 2020, and thereafter, the rate is adjusted for inflation.

1356 = Summary of Bill: Intent. A safe and sick leave law is created that applies to employees
performing services in the state, including temporary and part-time employees. Employees
accrue and are entitled to use and carry over unused leave based on employer size.
Employers with four or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees are exempt.
·         Tier 1 employers have more than four and fewer than 50 FTEs.
·         Tier 2 employers have 50 to fewer than 250 FTEs.
·         Tier 3 employers have 250 or more FTEs.
Paid sick and safe leave requirements do not apply to any employees covered by a bona fide
collective bargaining agreement to the extent the requirements are expressly waived in clear
and unambiguous terms.


Employer Tier
Hours worked to accrue hour of leave
Hour use per year
Carry-over
Tier 1
40
40
40
Tier 2
40
56
56
Tier 3
30
72
72


UPDATE #2: 3-30-2015
State Representative Emails District Legislative Assistant Email 
Rep. Michelle Caldier michelle.caldier@leg.wa.gov 26 Alexis Guse alexis.guse@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Jake Fey fey.jake@leg.wa.gov 27 My-Le Tang myle.tang@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Carol Gregory gregory.carol@leg.wa.gov 30 Meredith Rafferty meredith.rafferty@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Graham Hunt hunt.graham@leg.wa.gov 2 Barb Peters barb.peters@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Christopher Hurst hurst.christopher@leg.wa.gov 31 Caitlin Lopez caitlin.lopez@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Laurie Jinkins jinkins.laurie@leg.wa.gov 27 Lynda Foster lynda.foster@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Christine Kilduff christine.kilduff@leg.wa.gov  28 Osta Davis osta.davis@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Steve Kirby kirby.steve@leg.wa.gov 29 Chistel Mason-Gillespie chistel.mason.gillespie@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Linda Kockmar kochmar.linda@leg.wa.gov 30 Joseph Atkinson joseph.atkinson@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Dick Muri dick.muri@leg.wa.gov 28 Matt Helder matt.helder@leg.wa.gov
Rep. David Sawyer sawyer.david@leg.wa.gov 29 Olgy Diaz olgy.diaz@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Melanie Stambaugh melanie.stambaugh@leg.wa.gov  25 Shelbi Hogenson shelbi.hogenson@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Drew Stokesbary drew.stokesbary@leg.wa.gov 31 Joel Baxter joel.baxter@leg.wa.gov
Rep. J.T. Wilcox wilcox.jt@leg.wa.gov 2 Sharon Trask sharon.trask@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Jesse Young young.jesse@leg.wa.gov 26 Braedon Wilkerson braedon.wilkerson@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Hans Zeiger zeiger.hans@leg.wa.gov 25 Sarah Pollock sarah.pollock@leg.wa.gov

Your lawmakers need to hear from you and your opinion on these measures. Please contact Tom Pierson or Gary Brackett  at the Chamber with questions or specific concerns. 

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Trade Promotion Authority Roundtable

Please join us to discuss the current status of Trade Promotion Authority, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, and how you can ensure their successful passage by Congress. 

When:
9:00 - 10:30 am
Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

Where:
Tacoma - Pierce County Chamber
950 Pacific Ave #300, Tacoma, WA 98402

Jay Williams, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development at the U.S. Department of Commerce and Christopher Wenk, Executive Director, International Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are making a special trip to Tacoma to share with us how we can support the President's trade agenda. Don't miss this opportunity to hear their inside perspective on opportunities to move pro-trade policies forward.

 
 Click here to register now!

Event Sponsors Include: 

  













Monday, March 23, 2015

House Takes Up Transportation Package Revenue

The Transportation Package is moving along in the Washington State House of Representatives.


Chamber Pres. Tom Pierson and the Chamber’s state lobbyist Michael Transue have scheduled meetings with almost every Pierce County legislator Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Several members of the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee have volunteered to join the appointments these two days. Our thanks to these volunteers for their help in achieving better transportation infrastructure for the success of our businesses and the creation of more job opportunities in our community.

In other developments, the state House Transportation Committee has confirmed that it is holding a hearing at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26 on the transportation package’s two revenue bills that have passed out of the Senate (ESSB 5987 and ESSB 5988). The meeting will be in House Hearing Room B (John L. O’Brien Building, Capitol Campus, Olympia, WA 98504). The Chamber’s Pres. Chamber Pres. Tom Pierson will be present as an advocate for improved transportation supporting businesses and our economy.

We strongly encourage you to attend and testify—keeping up momentum on a package is critical. If you or a colleague plan to go, please let the Chamber's Manager for Business & Political Gary Brackett know.

And, the SR-167 Completion Coalition (including the Chamber) along with stakeholders of the JBLM/I-5 project, will be hosting a stand up reception Thursday in Olympia.  This reception will be attended by a number of transportation leaders within the Washington State Legislature. 


We encourage an open discussion with our Legislative leaders about the outlook of the legislation in the House and ways in which we can help move the transportation package forward.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Pacific Ave I-5 Bridge Closure Monday

UPDATE: MARCH 27

Ramps will close for prep work for Pacific Avenue demo in Tacoma

In advance of the scheduled April 6 nearly year-long total closure of the Pacific Avenue overpass spanning Interstate 5 in Tacoma, crews have additional work that will require night ramp and lane closures. The closures could result in some delays during the week of March 30.

In addition to the below closures, three around-the-clock ramp closures remain in place:
Southbound I-5 to State Route 7
Northbound SR 7 to southbound I-5
A Street to Interstate 705

Wednesday, April 1
At 10 p.m., the southbound State Route 167/Portland Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-5 will close until 6 a.m. the following day.
At 11 p.m., the northbound I-5 collector/distributor exit to southbound SR 7 will close until 4 a.m. the following day.

Friday, April 3
At 12:01 a.m., the northbound I-5 collector/distributor exit to SR 7 will close until 4 a.m.

Lane and shoulder closures
From Monday through Thursday, March 30-April 2, drivers may encounter night lane and shoulder closures on I-5, SR 7, and the northbound I-5 collector/distributor lane (from State Route 16 and South 38th Street).

City of Tacoma streets
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, drivers will see single lane closures on East 27th Street and Wiley Avenue.

Know before you go
Stay informed with nearly 200 specialized alerts from Washington State Department of Transportation. Other roadway information is available via WSDOT’s travel alerts web page and Twitter account.

Hyperlinks within the release:
Tacoma Traffic web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/construction/pugetsound/tacoma.htm
WSDOT self-subscribe alerts: https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOT/subscriber/new
Travels alerts web page: www.wsdot.com/traffic/trafficalerts/
Twitter @wsdot_tacoma: https://twitter.com/wsdot_tacoma

ORIGINAL

Monday, April 6, WSDOT will close Pacific Avenue in Tacoma at Interstate 5 for almost a year.  WSDOT takes this opportunity to give you a heads-up about the closure, and to explain why it is necessary.

The closure is part of WSDOT’s I-5 - M Street to Portland Avenue – HOV project, in which they are widening I-5 to accommodate HOV lanes. The columns supporting the overpass conflict with the alignment of the future widened highway, so the overpass will be demolished and rebuilt during the long-term closure.

WSDOT has worked with the City of Tacoma to create a detour route. It fully recognizes this will be an inconvenience for drivers who will need to modify their travel plans, and thanks you in advance for your patience while this work is under way. This project is one piece of a larger effort called the I-5 - SR 16 Tacoma/Pierce County HOV Program, which is a substantial investment by WSDOT to increase highway capacity in Pierce County.




Monday, March 16, 2015

Last Chance to Nominate for Tahoma Business Environmental Award

Tacoma Pierce County Chamber's 13th Annual
Tahoma Business Environmental Award


The Chamber annually recognizes entrepreneurial efforts that meet a high standard of excellence for mitigation, environmental, preservation and protection accomplishments through its Tahoma Environmental Business Award. 

The Chamber is accepting nominations of businesses that deserve recognition for their exemplary environmental protection or restoration efforts. Self-Nominations are encouraged and accepted. 

The selected nominee will receive a environmental business award to be presented by Taylor-Thomason Insurance. To self-nominate or nominate another exceptional business click here.

In addition to the award presentation, the Luncheon will feature speakers representing the intersection of business and the environment. The 13th Tahoma Business Environmental Award, will be presented at the Chamber Luncheon on April 10, 2015 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Pacific Grill Events Center, 1530 Pacific Avenue Tacoma, WA 98402.

Past Tahoma Environmental Business Award Recipients: 2014 J.L. Darling, 2013 Targa Sound Terminal, 2012 Richlite Company, 2011 Waste Connections, Inc., 2010 Walsh Construction, 2009 Carlile Transportation Systems, 2008 Pacific Lutheran University, 2007 Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc., 2006 Port of Tacoma, 2005 McFarland Cascade, 2004 Simpson, 2003 Kay Parks/Dan Meyer Auto Rebuild

Friday, March 13, 2015

I-5 Expansion Will Close Pacific Ave. Overpass

April’s showers won’t dampen the demolition of a four-lane overpass spanning Interstate 5 in downtown Tacoma. The Pacific Avenue overpass will soon be turned into a pile of rubble to make way for high occupancy vehicle lanes.

The bridge demolition is part of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s I-5 - M Street to Portland Avenue – HOV project. The Pacific Avenue overpass is one of two bridges that will be removed and rebuilt in this project to create HOV lanes through Tacoma.

Pacific Avenue will close at I-5 Monday, April 6, and remain closed until March 2016, while crews demolish and rebuild the overpass. During the closure, drivers can cross I-5 using a signed detour route to nearby McKinley Way. Once the new overpass at Pacific Avenue is open to traffic, WSDOT will close the McKinley Way overpass for 18 months while crews replace it.

“We know this lengthy Pacific Avenue closure will affect Tacoma businesses and residents, which is why we won’t close both Pacific Avenue and McKinley Way at the same time,” said WSDOT Olympic Region Administrator Kevin Dayton.

Demolition of the Pacific Avenue overpass is expected to take approximately three months. Construction crews will first demolish the bridge approaches and then the bridge, working overnight hours when I-5 traffic volumes are lowest. Crews will start on the northbound side of I-5 near the Interstate 705/State Route 7 interchange. Drivers should expect lane and ramp closures on I-5 during demolition, and details of the lane closures will be forthcoming.

Help for drivers
Real-time travel and traffic information are available.
Online tools that provide traffic camera images and a map of highway incidents and closures.
The 511 travel information hotline. For out-of-state callers, it’s 1-800-695-ROAD (7623).
The WSDOT mobile app, email alerts and other tools, such as Twitter.
Overhead and roadside electronic signs.

Hyperlinks within the release:
Project web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/piercecountyhov/i5_msttoportland/
Online tools: www.wsdot.com/traffic/
Mobile app: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Inform/mobile.htm
Travel info: www.wsdot.wa.gov/inform
WSDOT regional Twitter account: https://twitter.com/wsdot_tacoma

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Sustainable Tacoma Commission Seeks Members


You can apply for the Sustainable Tacoma Commission by March 31.

The Office of Environmental Policy and Sustainability is currently seeking applications for five vacancies on the Sustainable Tacoma Commission, the citizen group that oversees the City of Tacoma’s ongoing sustainability efforts.

Membership is open to different stakeholders, such as the environmental, business, labor, housing, industrial, port, transportation, education, building and residential communities. Commission members serve terms of three years.

The purpose of this Commission is to bring citizen accountability, transparency and awareness to the long-term implementation of Tacoma’s Climate Action Plan, and also manage, coordinate, communicate and encourage public involvement regarding sustainability issues. The Commission oversees the Office of Environmental Policy and Sustainability and makes recommendations about sustainability initiatives to City Council.

The Commission currently holds its public meetings on the second Tuesday of every month from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the Tacoma Municipal Building; however, this schedule may be adjusted to accommodate new members.

For more information on the Sustainable Tacoma Commission, please visit their website or contact Kristin Lynett at kristin.lynett@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5571.

Applications must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by March 31, 2015. To apply, please visit cityoftacoma.org/cbcapplication or contact Nicole Emery at servetacoma@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5178, or the City Clerk’s Office, Room 11, Municipal Building North, 733 Market St., Tacoma, WA 98402.

Monday, March 9, 2015

American Exporters Will Excel

Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg issued the following statement with respect to January’s export data released Friday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department. According to BEA, the United States exported $189.4 billion of goods and services in January, 2015.

American exporters, when competing on a level playing field, will always excel, said Hochberg. At Ex-Im Bank, we will continue to support American exporters so they can introduce their goods and services to new global markets and create more middle class jobs here at home.

ABOUT EX-IM BANK:
Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that supports and maintains U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees and export credit insurance, to promote the sale of U.S. goods and services abroad. Ninety percent of its transactions directly serve American small businesses.

In fiscal year 2014, Ex-Im Bank approved $20.5 billion in total authorizations. These authorizations supported an estimated $27.5 billion in U.S. export sales, as well as approximately 164,000 American jobs in communities across the country.

Small business exporters can learn about how Ex-Im Bank products can empower them to increase foreign sales by clicking HERE. For more information about Ex-Im, visit HERE.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

WA State Senate Passed $15B Transportation Package

The Washington State Senate passed the $15 billion transportation package yesterday afternoon by finalizing their efforts with *Senate Bill 5987 and 5988 to bring funding to key mega-projects around the State. 

On Friday the Washington State Senate took eight votes to adopt pieces of legislation that are necessary components of a new transportation revenue, expenditure and reform package for Washington state **(SB 5990 – SB 5997).

While Senate session was ended on Friday due to a procedural question on Rule 67, which caused delay in consideration of the gas tax, bond and additive funding bills, the final passage of the package was expected and completed Monday.


The Chamber encourages members to thank their Pierce County representatives for their efforts in funding the transportation package to their emails listed below. Senators Angel, Becker, Dammeier, Miloscia, and O'Ban dutifully represented Pierce County interests by continuing to vote yes on reform bills and complete their efforts by supporting the funding measures. 

This transportation package funds the clearing of traffic and port related congestion alike for both ends of Pierce County. It allocates necessary monies for upgrades to the SR-167 and the JBLM-Corridor, as well as other regional projects across the State.

Currently the bill heads to the House for its consideration. We urge our State Representatives from Pierce County to keep the goal of this package in site. Funding transportation will boost Washington’s economy by building projects necessary to compete globally as well as creating new jobs critical for citizens and workers. 

Monday, March 2, 2015

Transpo Package: Action Now & Results (So Far)

UPDATE:  Mar. 3, 8:28 a.m.

For the most comprehensive update, go HERE.

UPDATE: Mar. 2, 3:16 P.M.

WA Senate passed final two bills in the Transportation Package:


Senator
5987
5988
Senator Jan Angel
Y
Y
Senator Randi Becker
Y
Y
Senator Steve Conway
Y
Y
Senator Bruce F. Dammeier
Y
Y
Senator Jeannie Darneille
Y
Y
Senator Mark  Miloscia
Y
Y
Senator Steve O'Ban
Y
Y
Senator Pam  Roach
N
N
TOTAL VOTE
27Y-22N
41Y-8N

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SAY "THANK YOU" TO SENATORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE PIERCE COUNTY DELEGATION, FOR VOTING "YES."

Friday, the Washington State Senate took eight votes on final passage to adopt pieces of legislation that are necessary components of a new transportation revenue, expenditure and reform package for Washington state (SB 5990 – SB 5997). 

While Senate session was ended due to a procedural question, which caused delay in consideration of the gas tax, bond and additive funding bills until Monday, we expect final passage of the package to happen on Monday.

What we need is for you to communicate to your Senators (LIST and EMAILS BELOW) and thank them for their vote, if appropriate.

Passing these reforms bills is critical to the success of the entire package.  We know we need to upgrade our infrastructure and not allow our highways to deteriorate.  The full package under consideration will build projects necessary to compete globally.  These projects will increase the health of our state economy as well as deliver a return on investment for Washington State.  Additionally, the package will create new family wage jobs, critical for the many.  Please keep the goal of this package in site. Yes votes are votes to boost Washington’s economy today and for generations to come.

Tell them to keep up the good work on Monday by voting in favor of the remaining bills in the package (SB 5987 – SB 5589)!

Tell them we applaud your efforts so far.  Now let’s cross the goal line. Keep up the great work on Monday by voting in favor of the remaining bills in the package (SB 5987 – SB 5589)!

  
Senator
Email
5992
5991
5993
5990
5995
5997
5996
5994
Senator Jan Angel
jan.angel@leg.wa.gov
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Senator Randi Becker
randi.becker@leg.wa.gov
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Senator Steve Conway
conway.steve@leg.wa.gov
Y
N
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Senator Bruce F. Dammeier
tellbruce@comcast.net
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Senator Jeannie Darneille
Jeannie.Darneille@leg.wa.gov
Y
N
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Senator Mark  Miloscia
miloscia@comcast.net
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Senator Steve O'Ban
steve.oban@leg.wa.gov
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Senator Pam  Roach
roach.pam@leg.wa.gov
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
TOTAL VOTE
48Y-1N
27Y-22N
48Y-1N
26Y-23N
49Y-0N
49Y-0N
47Y-2N
30Y-19N
Bill Number
Title
5992
Ferry Vessel Construction
5991
DOT/env Leg
5993
Public Works - Labor
5990
Sales Taxes on Transpo Projects
5995
Mobility/Transit
5997
Transpo Project Delivery
5996
DOT Stakeholders
5994
DOT Corridor Permitting
Pending Bill Number
Pending Title
5987
Transpo Revenue
5989
Transpo Bonding