Washington Retail Association

The eyes, ears and voice of retailers

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Jan Teague, President/CEO


Mission Statement

To represent the legislative, regulatory and political interests of the retailing industry in the State of Washington at the local, state and national level; to promote the orderly development and economic advancement of Washington retailing and the state as a whole; to stimulate and enhance competitive enterprise with community responsibility; to provide programs of service and action in promoting the common interests of members; and to secure cooperation with and among other organizations in the furtherance of those objectives.

(RILA) Retail Industry Leaders Association meets
By Jan Teague, President/CEO 

Last week I flew to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Government Affairs meeting of RILA.  The event had a broad array of companies in attendance including many of our members.  These events are impressive with key Congressional leaders talking to us about what is likely to get done before campaign season gets in full swing.  Quite frankly, not much will get done other than a lot of activity around the elections.  

I did learn that California's budget problems have a character to them.  Approximately 30 percent of the people in California are getting some kind of assistance from the state.  This is a much larger number than it is historically.  So a great deal of their state's deficit is because California is a benefit-rich state.  The problem with this now is that those who are employed are not able to cover the costs of those who get all of these benefits.  It is a problem that will be hard to reverse.  

I also learned that this upcoming election will be the first since the Depression that the unemployment rate is above 9 percent.  This will impact how people decide to vote.  And, with the President's approval below 50 percent, a larger number of seats than normal will switch from Democrat to Republican. 
 
There were some political operatives there to speculate on various races.  They showed Senator Patty Murray and candidate Dino Rossi to be neck and neck.  They didn't even bother mentioning the third candidate from eastern Washington.  

I had appointments with four in our Congressional delegation.  In these meetings we discussed the Streamlined Sales Tax (now being called "Main Street Fairness") and organized retail theft.  Everyone seemed open to the issues, but I will say that in Congressman Brian Baird's office we talked to a very tired staff who seemed quite distracted by us being there.  I have little confidence that our message will even get to Congressman Baird, who decided not to run again and will be out of office in a few months. 

The more I experience Washington, D.C. the more I understand just how hard it is to get your voice heard.  Even when you are coming from your state for a visit, you might not get to meet with anyone.  After all, they are quite busy in various meetings.  It truly brings to mind that if you get a chance to visit in your district with your Congressional leaders, you should.  I encourage you all to take the time over the next year to do so.  After this election cycle, I think it will be more important than ever for all elected officials to know who we are and what our concerns are for the country. 

There is talk about a VAT tax (value added tax).  After the elections, Congress will spend time figuring out how to reduce the deficit.  It will either be with more taxes or less government.  The new Congress will be making that decision and you need to be heard on those options.
 

 


Association salutes pro-retail state legislators

 

OLYMPIA  - The Washington Retail Association wishes to thank 19 state legislators who fully supported its efforts to reduce financial burdens on retailers and consumers during the 2009 and 2010 Legislative sessions.

 

Since the peak of retail employment statewide of more than 331,000 at the end of 2007, about 27,000 retail jobs have been eliminated in the recession.

 

As economic conditions worsened the past two years, the 19 legislators WRA salutes today voted to oppose the Legislature’s maneuver that wiped out a two-thirds majority requirement to approve new taxes. They then voted against $800 million in new taxes the Legislature approved that have increased the cost of bottled water, soft drinks, beer, candy, gum and cigarettes. These new costs ignore government spending cuts the Legislature could have made and made it more difficult to buy and sell these products. These taxes hurt consumers and endanger the futures of retailers struggling to survive the damage already done by the recession.

 

“Members of WRA appreciate those legislators who stuck with us in these tough economic times,” said Mark Johnson, WRA’s Vice President of Government Affairs. “They resisted the temptation to increase taxes that can only hurt retailers struggling to survive the recession.”

 

Legislators who distinguished themselves by showing 100 percent support for WRA’s efforts to reduce taxes and control costly government regulation are:

 

In the Senate,  Randi Becker (Eatonville) , Dale Brandland (Bellingham), Mike Carrell (Lakewood), Jerome Delvin (Richland), Jim Honeyford (Sunnyside) , Curtis King (Yakima), Bob McCaslin (Veradale), Linda Evans Parlette (Wenatchee), Cheryl Pflug (Issaquah), Mark Schoesler (Ritzville), and Val Stevens (Arlington). 

 

In the House of Representatives, Mike Armstrong (Wenatchee), Bruce Chandler (Granger), Doug Ericksen (Bellingham), Dan Kristiansen (Snohomish), Jim McCune (Graham), Kirk Pearson (Monroe), Matt Shea (Otis Orchards) and David Taylor (Moxee).


Counter
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Taxes Hit Small Retailers

February 18, 2010


Taxes and fees
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Tax Information

The Washington Retail Association, WRA, is a 501 C 6 trade association formed to advocate for Washington State’s retailers at the local, state and national level. Since 1987, the WRA has protected Washington's retailers from unreasonable taxes, fees, regulations and legislation. The efforts of the WRA benefit all Washington state retailers and help fuel statewide economic growth.


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Washington Retail Association (WRA)
PO Box 2227
618 Quince St SE, STE A
Olympia, WA  98501
360-943-9198
800-752-9552