Thank you for Passing Transportation Package

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.

Half of Senate Offers Up to Second Half & House

In the first significant development of the new legislative session, WA Senate Transportation Co-chair Curtis King unveiled a transportation package of projects, mixes roads and transit, funding sources and reforms.  The other half of the Senate and the House are being given a challenge and a target.

Links to more detailed Information:

Draft Sources & Uses Proposal Final Detail

Proposed Legislative Reforms Final

Non-Highway Projects & Local Options:

Revenues & Expenditures Balance Sheet

Senate Transportation Listening Tour Stops Here 10/9

The Senate’s Majority Caucus Coalition roadmap for a state-wide listening tour to talk about a transportation revenue package in the state legislature includes a stop in Tacoma on October 9 at the Evergreen Tacoma Campus, Lyceum Hall, 1210 6th Ave.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and last until 9 p.m. and feature presentations from regional transportation officials, as well as an opportunity for public comment.

 

The Chamber encourages supporters of completing SR-167 to attend the October 9 meeting and weigh in at the proceedings.

 

Click here for more information on the current listening tour schedule.  

167 & 509 Groups Call for Bi-Partisan Transportation Leaders to Act Now

The members of the SR-167 Completion Coalition and the SR-509 Stakeholder Group are calling upon each member of the King and Pierce County delegations to jointly support the Transportation Revenue Package and fund the two projects that have over 40 years of planning, design work, and NEPA analysis behind them.  Further, the groups are calling upon Representative Laurie Jinkins, Representative Dave Upthegrove, Senator Bruce Dammeier, and Senator Joe Fain to assemble both delegations to meet this week and come to a bi-partisan agreement that they will not go home until the Transportation Revenue Package is passed.

The groups stated the time has come for Legislators to put aside their differences and act on the Transportation Revenue Package.  The groups emphasized the need for leadership on the part of the King and Pierce County Legislators.

The SR-509 and SR-167 groups said the collapse last night of the Interstate 5 Bridge over the Skagit River should serve as a wake-up call for action on a comprehensive transportation package now – and that such a package should become more comprehensive to address not only critical projects such as the “Gateways” completion but additional bridge repair, maintenance and preservation as well.

John Parrott, president of Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc expressed the views of the group when he stated, “With full sensitivity to those affected by the I-5 bridge collapse over the Skagit River, the need is clear, and our leadership in Olympia must take this opportunity to invest in our transportation infrastructure.  There simply is no more time for excuses, we must act now to protect our jobs, improve freight mobility, stay competitive and avoid what occurred on the Skagit River. We will accept nothing less this year.  Forty years is long enough to wait.”

Members of the coalitions support legislative action now to move Washington state forward and complete these highways, improve freight mobility and job growth, and build modern transportation infrastructure with critical redundancies for safety and reliability.

Click here to read a related News Tribune editorial "SR 167: A job-creating bridge waiting to be built."

167 Rally: Build It Now

Groups from across the State of Washington came together yesterday in a strong show of support for the proposed Transportation Investment Package.  Democrats, Republicans and leaders from business, labor, ports and local government were all represented at the rally in Olympia. 

The event was emceed by the Mayor of Auburn, Pete Lewis, who introduced speakers including Governor Jay Inslee, Congressman Denny Heck, State Senator Tracy Eide, State Representative Judy Clibborn, State Representative Hans Zeiger and State Representative Dave Upthegrove.  Local government officials also spoke in support of the package, as did representatives from business, labor and local ports.

Congressman Heck summarized the theme of the rally when he stated, “We can’t let politics get in the way of this transportation package. Our state needs a modern infrastructure to compete in the 21st-century global economy. Thousands of family-wage jobs are at stake. The time to act is now.”

In taking a look at the crowd on the steps, Scott Mason President ILWU Local 23 observed that, “Usually you would see just labor, or business.  What I see here are all factions of our statewide economic base turning out to support a single idea; invest in our transportation system now or our State will be quickly outcompeted both domestically and worldwide in the movement of goods around the globe.  There are no more excuses – pass the Transportation Revenue Package this session.”

In Washington State, four out of every ten jobs are trade dependent. It’s for this reason that so many disparate groups came together today to show that there is no time to waste on modernizing our infrastructure for 21st-century global trade. Our leaders in Olympia must act now and vote to approve the Transportation Revenue Package.

Pictured (l. to r.): from Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber - Cana Vinluan, Business Advocacy Intern, Tom Pierson, President & CEO and Gary Brackett, Business & Political Manager

Transportation Funding Rally May 20, 2013 Media Coverage

Thursday, May 16:
Business Examiner - http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/May-2013/Pierce-Chamber-to-join-transportation-package-rally/

Seattle Times (Editorial) - http://seattletimes.com/html/editorials/2021001198_edittransportationxml.html

Sunday, May 19:
News Tribune - http://m.thenewstribune.com/newstrib/db_108680/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=1OB7kY3l

Monday, May 20:
News Tribune - http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2013/05/20/morning-update-special-session-day-8-2/

Business Examiner - http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/May-2013/Capital-steps-rally-backs-Transport-funding/

Seattle Times - http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021023827_apwaxgrtransportationrally3rdldwritethru.html?prmid=obinsource

KING 5 - http://www.king5.com/news/politics/Despite-rally-for-transportation-package-I-5-bridge-remains-a-concern-208231511.html

KIRO 7:
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/legislative/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/nXxTb/
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/psLLb/
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/psLLd/
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/psLLX/
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/psLLY/
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/psLLZ/
• http://www.kirotv.com/ap/ap/washington/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/psLLc/

Q13 Fox - http://q13fox.com/2013/05/20/inslee-if-you-want-roads-bridges-repaired-raise-the-gas-tax/#axzz2TwukLMVR

Kitsap Sun -  http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/may/20/inslee-speaks-at-transportation-revenue-rally/#axzz2Twtnxz6E

Wenatchee World Online - http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/may/20/inslee-signs-87-billion-transportation-budget/

Spokesman Review -  http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2013/may/20/inslee-vetoes-part-transportation-budget/

Westport News - http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Inslee-signs-transportation-budget-4532425.php

Join the Rally to Complete 167!

Groups from across the State of Washington will come together in a bi-partisan show of support for the Transportation Revenue Package on Monday, May 20th at 10 a.m. on the Capitol steps in Olympia.

Interests span from Spokane to Everett, Republican to Democrats, and they all will share the same message that this proposed package is too critical not to do – and that action is needed now - this session.

Governor Jay Inslee, Congressman Denny Heck, Senate and House Transportation Chairs, and other Legislative leaders will address the crowd to voice the belief that this State cannot wait another year or another day to pass this investment package.  Four out of every 10 jobs in Washington are trade-dependent, so it is vital that we meet our freight mobility needs, congestion relief goals, and support economic development so the citizens of this State have family-wage jobs available now and well into the future.

The various interests from across the state – representing business, labor, farm, environment and transit - are putting aside historical and traditional differences.  Participants will implore elected leaders to pass a bi-partisan Transportation Revenue Package during the Special Session and keep the state moving forward.

Where:       Steps of the State Capitol in Olympia

Parking and Shuttle Information: http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Parking.aspx

When:         May 20, 2013
                    10 a.m.

Who:           YOU!  RSVP today

Chamber Joins Panel Advocating Transportation Package

Tom Pierson, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO spoke on businesses’ behalf as part of the SR-167 Completion Coalition at the House Transportation Hearing today.

Speaking from his past experience both in the public and private sectors, Pierson stated, “There is no other project on the table today that can compete with the economic development potential of the completion of SR167/HWY509.”
 
Other points Pierson reiterated were that as proposed, the Puget Sound Gateway project meets businesses’ current needs and will meet the region’s needs far into the future; that the state Transportation Department estimates a completed SR-167 could create 80,000 permanent jobs, along with 948 direct construction jobs and up to 1,990 indirect jobs per year of construction.

“Our business community has thrown their support behind this project and necessary funding package because the projected benefits from this investment are vital to solidifying the competitiveness of our region,” Pierson said.

Pierson also pointed out that business and labor have come together for what they see as a common goal by deciding not to concentrate on what commonly divides them, but instead, being weary of the matter, decided to work on getting something built together. 

“In this spirit, I would ask that the House Transportation Committee set aside any partisan issues and rally to support this package and the needed revenue to pay for it.  The time to act is now and we cannot afford more empty promises or good intentions.  We need this project built as fast as possible to meet current needs,” Pierson said.

Other representatives from the SR-167 Coalition who spoke at the Hearing were Todd Iverson from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 23, Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, Tacoma City Mayor Marilyn Strickland, City of Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis and Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe.

Updated Time and Location for Leg Day 2

Due to the dynamic nature of the current legislative session, the Chamber has had to revise our meeting time and place for our second Legislative Advocacy Day of the session.

Please note the event is now starting at 12:00 p.m. in Conference Rooms A, B, and C of the John A. Cherberg Building, 304 15th Ave., SW Olympia.

Please visit our events page to register.

Legislature Considers Mandating More Benefits

A trio of employee benefits bills impacting all businesses (or businesses whose workers enter Seattle), will be heard this Wednesday, Feb. 20, 1:30 p.m. by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. 

Chamber Recommendations:

SUPPORT SB 5726 Places geographic limitations on local paid sick leave and paid safe leave programs.

SUPPORT SB 5728 Declares state preemption of local paid sick and paid safe leave regulation.

OPPOSE SB 5594 Mandates state-wide minimum standards for sick and safe leave from employment.

The City of Seattle’s application of its sick leave regulation to any business that has workers temporarily in Seattle has impacts on all businesses whose workers physically go there.  If you have workers who go into Seattle even for only part of a given day, contact your legislators (where you live and where your business is located). (Link to Senate Find Your Legislator.)

Your stories of the impacts on your business (paperwork expense, added personnel costs, etc.) to the Chamber’s lobbyist Michael Transue will help.  For those companies with lobbyists, have them sign up in opposition to this legislation.

You may want to communicate to your legislator and/or sign up in opposition to SB 5594 legislation if you believe there is no room in state government for a sick/safe leave policy mandate on business on a state-wide level.   You may comment online for each bill here.

 
If you have the opportunity to journey to Olympia to personally tell of the impact to your business, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee meeting is:

Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

(link to campus map)

SR-167 Completion Coalition First Steps

The executive committee of the SR-167 Completion Coalition, the new stakeholder working group aimed at completing SR-167, met for the first time Friday, January 11.

Pierce County business, labor and community leaders have worked tirelessly to secure the funding necessary to complete SR-167 for decades. The new working group is aimed at bringing together the stakeholders who have been working on this issue into a single group with a unified agenda and message.

The uncompleted portion of SR-167 is a critical missing link in Washington’s transportation system. Without completion, over the next two decades Washington risks losing out on significant amounts of new public and private revenue to other ports along the Pacific coast. The new revenue would be generated primarily by increased containerized cargo traffic.

Completion of SR-167 would also reduce congestion and commute times between Tacoma and Puyallup as well as provide other indirect benefits to the local economy.

The working group named Tim Thompson of Thompson Smitch Consulting Group to coordinate efforts amongst the stakeholders. Thompson is President of the firm and has long been involved in issues that jointly benefit the public and private sectors.

The members of the SR-167 Completion Coalition’s executive committee are as follows:

o   Co-Chair: Dick Marzano, Port of Tacoma Commissioner

o   Co-Chair: John Parrot, TOTE (Totem Ocean Trailer Express)

o   Congressman Denny Heck, Washington’s 10^th Congressional District

o   Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive

o   Marilyn Strickland, Mayor of Tacoma

o   Pete Lewis, Mayor of Auburn

o   Glen Hull, Mayor Pro-tem City of Fife

o   Tom Pierson, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO

o   Bill Sterud, Puyallup Tribe

o   Scott Mason, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 23

o   Toby Murray, Murray Pacific Corporation

o   Tim Thompson, Project Consultant

SR-167 leads the Chamber's Legislative Agenda priorities. For more information visit the SR-167 Completion Coalition website.

Majority Coalition Caucus

After winning a majority in the State Legislature, the Democratic Party loses control.  As announced in a press release today:
 
"Bipartisan coalition forms majority in Washington State Senate.  Coalition focused on jobs, education and budget with shared committee structure."
 
"Democrat and Republican senators announced today that they have formed a Majority Coalition Caucus to lead the Senate during the 2013 legislative session. Twenty-five state senators have committed themselves to a set of principles that will guide the work of the new caucus, including:

• promoting job growth and a vibrant economy;
• creating a sustainable budget and living within the state’s means;
• providing a world-class education system through reforms and enhancements;
• governing collaboratively to protect the most vulnerable while prioritizing the needs of middle-class Washingtonians; and
• setting priorities for state government and holding it accountable."

While the Majority Coalition Caucus is bipartisan it is made up of 23 Republicans and 2 Democrats.  This effectively divides the two houses of the state legislature with the House having majority Democratic control.  In addition with the election of our new Governor-elect Jay Inslee, the Democratic Party also continues to control the Governor's mansion.

For more on this, please see the Majority Coalition Caucus's press release at: http://src.leg.wa.gov/news/2012/joint/121012MCC.htm 

The News Tribune's Coverage is at: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/12/10/2397605/2-dems-to-work-with-gop-to-control.html

Businesses' Ideas for Making Laws

In the midst of this hotly-contested campaign season, we can’t lose sight of the necessity to prepare for the upcoming state legislative session when all the election winners will enact new laws.

 

To be effective in January 2013, the Chamber members need to develop the Chamber’s legislative agenda. This is a great opportunity for you, our Chamber members, to develop the legislative agenda.  The Chamber will be surveying its members for their preferences on issues that will be or should be before the legislature.

 

You are encouraged to promptly share survey ideas:  goals, guidelines, survey questions of policy, issue areas, legislation.  You may submit specific questions and other suggestions to Gary Brackett.

 

Please share with the Chamber your input for a 2013 Legislative Agenda Survey that the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee will use to prepare an agenda beginning with its next meeting, September 18.

The Upcoming 2012 Regular Legislative Session - What's in Store

What is in store for the upcoming 2012 Session of the Washington State Legislature can be summed up in just two words – budget deficit.

How many cuts and where? Are new taxes (and/or a new tax package heading to the voters) on the table to help solve the problem? What are the State’s top budgetary priorities? These will be the questions on most everyone’s mind.

The 2011-2013 biennial budget that was adopted earlier this year by the Legislature totaled $32.2 billion and took effect July 1, 2011. Since then however, revenue projections fell to $30.5 billion in mid-September. And an additional $122 million revenue shortfall was added by the most recent forecast, bringing the total revenue projection to $30.4 billion.

Governor Gregoire put forth her first recommended cuts in October. The Governor released her revised proposed budget based upon the November revenue forecast and the caseload changes. They can be found at this link. She worked with agency directors to identify expenditure reductions in addition to the 5% and 10% reduction options submitted by agencies last month.

As the Special Session ended in mid-December , legislators cut an estimated $480 Million from the $2 Billion starting point. A summary of these budget changes can be found at this link.

Those who participate in the legislative process will be earnestly looking toward the 60-day 2012 Regular Session, which begins on January 9^th to make up the additional deficit of $1.5 Billion. The Special Session in December provided and the Regular Session, which runs from January 9 through March 8^, 2012, will provide the Legislature with its opportunity to further respond to the Governor’s proposed budget changes. Legislators will address the estimated $1.5 billion deficit from their points of view and with their priorities in mind.

By Guest Author, Michael Transue, Attorney at Law, Governmental Affairs and Lobbying Services

Field of Candidates Narrowed in Primary

The election in August narrowed the field of candidates running for office this November.

Senator Patty Murray (D) will take on challenger Dino Rossi (R) for the U.S. Senate. In the House, Norm Dicks (D) will once again take on Doug Cloud (R) for the four time and Adam Smith (D) will have a new challenger in Pierce County Councilmember Dick Muri (R).

In some of the races, members of the same party will face off against one another in the general election, which will be held on November 2, 2010.

Two Republicans will face each other in the general election in two of the legislative districts. In the 2nd legislative district, J.T. Wilcox will face incumbent Tom Campbell. In the 31st legislative district, Republicans Shawn Bunney and Kathy Dalquist will meet in the November election.

A similar fate awaits Democrats Jake Fey and Laurie Jinkins, who are running to replace retiring State Representative Dennis Flannigan in the 27th LD. It appears former Tacoma City Councilmember Connie Ladenburg will soon be in the state House of Representatives after a strong showing against three opponents.

In the county, Rick Talbert easily outmatched his opponents for the District 5 seat (incumbent Barbara Gelman was term-limited) by garnering 55% of the total vote. Democrat Betty Ringlee will square up against Republican Stan Flemming after a six candidate primary battle to represent District 7 (Gig Harbor/University Place). Democrat Pat McElligott will face Republican Dan Roach in the race to replace term-limited Shawn Bunney.

AWB's Regional Candidates Meetings in Pierce County

AWB’s Regional Membership Meetings, candidate interviews start tomorrow.

It’s not too late to RSVP for AWB’s Regional Membership Meetings and candidate interviews. These important meetings begin this week with a gathering tomorrow in Tacoma, followed by meetings in Vancouver and Bellevue. The meetings, which continue through the middle of September, not only give you a chance to meet with legislators, but are also an important part of AWB’s candidate endorsement process. Meetings are scheduled for:

· Aug. 31 — Tacoma (regional meeting and candidate interviews)

· Sept. 9 —  Gig Harbor (candidate interviews only)

· Sept. 10 — Puyallup (candidate interviews only)

Detailed information, including times, specific locations and agendas, is available on AWB’s events calendar. RSVP to AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at 800.521.9325.

I-1082 Creates Economic Advantages

The Business Examiner reports the Office of Financial Management predicts an economic upturn in the state's economy and revenue if Initiative 1082 passes in November.

The Chamber supports privatization and competition in the workers' compensation insurance market and urges Chamber members to vote for I-1082. More from the Business Examiner below:

"A state government report indicates a vibrant competitive market for workers' compensation insurance would be created if voters approve Initiative 1082.

"The Office of Financial Management released its Fiscal Impact Statement yesterday analyzing Initiative 1082 as part of the state Voters' Guide process.
OFM predicts private insurers would acquire slightly more than half of the workers' compensation market by 2014 as businesses flee the existing state-run monopoly. With a reduced case load, "… state expenditures for claims costs will correspondingly decrease," according to the report.

"The report estimates 320 insurers and as many as 500 insurance agents and brokers would ultimately be licensed by the state to sell workers' compensation insurance if private competition is allowed. That new business activity is expected to generate at least $20 million in annual tax revenue to support the state's general fund budget. "

Ballot Resource For Business

Ballots for the August 17 Primary Election are in the mail this Friday, July 30.

Voting begins this weekend.

You can use the Chamber's Enterprise Washington's GROW program page to view voter guides, which include candidate information, responses to candidate questionnaires, incumbent voting records and information on voting in Washington state.

You can also find an editorial on "What to Look For in a Candidate" and frequent updates leading up to the Primary Election voting at the GROW Election Center.

Candidates File For Office

There were some surprises in this year's candidate filings, which officially begin the election season this year. Some of those surprises include:

Republican challengers in East Pierce County to the Roach family - 31st Legislative District (LD) /Pierce County Council (PCC) Seat 1

Last minute filings in the South Tacoma state legislative races - 29th LD

Large number of challengers for several seats - 8th Congressional District (CD) /PCC7

Reappearance of past incumbents - 2nd LD /PCC7

Click here for more information. Incumbents are bolded in this list.

Two-day Grace Period on Regulatory Compliance for Small Businesses

On March 24, Governor Gregoire signed House Bill 2603 into law. The bi-partisan bill, which passed the legislature unanimously, gives small businesses a grace period of two business days to comply when found in violation of a state regulation.

The bill's prime sponsor, Rep. Norma Smith (R-Clinton), derived the concept from a recommendation at Washington Policy Center's (WPC) 2009 Statewide Small Business Conference, where more than 300 small business owners and policymakers gathered to discuss the biggest challenges in Washington’s business climate. Participants offered and voted on specific policy recommendations, including the two-day grace period for regulatory compliance.

“Small business owners in Washington face a growing mountain of regulations on how they can operate their businesses, and it is increasingly difficult for them to keep up and comply with those regulations,” said Carl Gipson, director of WPC’s Center for Small Business, who attended the signing ceremony in the Governor’s office yesterday. “This two-day grace period is a small step in the right direction, and it certainly is welcome relief to the folks who are the backbone of our state’s economy.”

The two-day grace period law takes effect in July.

For more information on specific policy reform ideas recommended by small-business owners, read the WPC report “Small Business and the Road to Recovery.”

Washington Policy Center press release