VOTE TODAY

VOTE TODAY. Ballots due to drop off locations or voting centers HERE by 8:00 p.m. today, or postmarked today.

Resource for you:  Tacoma-Pierce Co. Vote for Business Guide HERE.

Voters’ Guide for Business Now Available

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce’s third Voters’ Guide for Business is now available online for all voters and businesses concerned with how candidates’ views align with the best business and economic interests of Tacoma.

The Voters’ Guide for Business includes the responses, or lack thereof, to a Chamber produced survey from candidates in 35 contested races throughout the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s service area.  The Guide also includes the Chamber’s position on ballot initiatives that will directly influence job growth, businesses, and the overall health of the economy in Pierce County.

This year’s election is filled with candidates and initiatives that have the ability to influence issues regarding taxes, regulations, incentives, and the general business climate for years to come.  We encourage any voters concerned with the future of Tacoma’s economy to read and share our Guide, compare the candidates’ positions on important issues with your own preferences, and most importantly, keep them in mind while casting your ballot in the coming weeks.

Thank you for Passing Transportation Package

Outreach about Transportation & Education

Have you heard AWB’s radio ad? 

AWB's 60-second spot, “System in Crisis,” is airing on radio stations throughout the Puget Sound, encouraging lawmakers to approve a bipartisan transportation package to reduce congestion and lower carbon emissions. 

You can listen to it HERE. 

AWB also joined with Keep Washington Rolling to place this full-page ad in last Sunday’s Seattle Times, and is part of a coalition called Recover Washington that’s airing this ad encouraging lawmakers to fund education without raising taxes. 

This is an unprecedented advertising round for AWB and it reflects the importance of the issues they’re dealing with this year.

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

1.       HB 1355 - Increasing the minimum hourly wage to twelve dollars over four years.

2.       HB 1356 - Establishing minimum standards for sick and safe leave from employment.

3.       ESHB 1646 - Enacting the equal pay opportunity act by amending and enhancing enforcement of the equal pay act and protecting worker communications about wages and employment opportunities.

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. 

Second Opportunity to Meet w/ Legislators

Chamber Members are invited to join the Chamber's delegation to Olympia for Legislative Advocacy Day #2 on Monday, April 6.

Registration with Karissa HERE.

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.

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. 

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