Mall shooting should prompt state review of gun laws By Jan Teague, President/CEO
The Westfield Southcenter mall shooting on Saturday November 21st was a stark reminder of weak state gun laws that are not protecting the public. While malls are private property, gun owners can legally carry their weapons into malls.
The media called for stronger mall security without realizing that property managers can only ask a person with a gun to leave the mall if a shopper complains that it scares them or makes them uncomfortable. Malls have a unique identity of being a public space which puts owners and managers at a disadvantage regarding what they can do to rid guns from their property. Two people were shot at the Tukwila mall, one of whom died.
After the shooting, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels responded that he would be holding a public meeting on December 15th to talk about rules keeping guns off of government property. The Mayor has been looking at the new rule since May 24th when three people were injured at the Seattle Folk Life Festival.
You can review the city's gun rule at www.seattle.gov/firearmsrule/ where you can submit a comment. Seattle will be holding a public hearing on the rule at 6:30, December 15th at City Hall in the Bertha Knight Landes room, which is accessible from the building's Fifth Avenue entrance.
I hope the responses and turn out get the attention of state Legislative leaders. If enough people forward concerns, maybe state law can revisit its gun controls.
While city officials might think that they are threatened on their publicly- owned properties, shoppers also are threatened in crowed public places such as malls. It seems as though public safety would be well served if the Legislature supported a change in state law to strengthen gun carrying laws in public places.
However, gun advocates are a very strong group in Washington State. Recent media reports show an increase in gun purchases as people race to buy a gun before gun ownership laws change under the new Democratic leadership. With the tide of gun advocates already rushing in, it will take strong leadership in the Legislature to buck that tide.
About six years ago the Washington Retail Association ran a bill to stop stolen items from being sold at flea markets. You would think that this would have been a simple law to pass, but when I showed up at the hearing, the room was full of gun owners opposing the bill. Of course they argued many things about burdensome proof of purchase. And they were successful at being named in the bill as specifically exempt from the theft law. Now, with such a simple request related to theft, how would the Legislature hold up under pressure that seems to protect the public, but with much less clarity on the right to bare arms edict?
I hope for change in gun laws. I have heard more than a few stories from mall managers that they have tried to get attention for this problem, but with no success. Just how many people will have to be shot before something is done? What is the gun tolerance level that we as a society are willing to live with?
Let's hope the Legislature decides to have a full discussion on the very real problem of guns in public places. It's time for a change in this area of the law.
Statewide small business conference planned
The Washington Retail Association was a co-presenter at two recent small business forums in Tacoma and Vancouver, Washington.
More than 600 participants attended the series of statewide small business forums organized by the Washington Policy Center.
WRA's Vice President of Government Affairs, Mark Johnson, was a presenter at the Tacoma and Vancouver forums.
Participants discussed and reviewed a variety of important topics including health care access and affordability, environmental regulation and transportation.
A report on the discussions will be issued to legislators and policy makers to establish priorities in the coming Legislative session.
Coming next fall, the Washington Policy Center will host a statewide small business conference at a site to be determined. The Washington Retail Association will help to organize the upcoming conference and again will participate as a co-presenter.
More than 80 percent of the Washington Retail Association's memberships are made up of small businesses.
The Washington Policy Center is a non-partisan public policy research organization in Seattle and Olympia. It publishes studies, sponsors events and conferences and educates citizens on policy issues facing the state.
Johnson said he values WRA's cooperation with the Washington Policy Center.
"WRA enjoys its relationship with the policy center," Johnson said. "They are helpful in researching issues relating to small business."
Retro study groups set deadlines
Tammie Hetrick, the Washington Retail Association's Vice President of Retail Services, attended two recent meetings regarding a review of Retrospective Rating Programs and possible changes to training standards for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics.
Two contractors hired to review Retro program operations set deadlines of April 30 and June 30 of 2009 for completing their work on actuarial, underwriting and claims/risk management operations.
Labor groups have been considering bills for the next Legislative session that could change the way Retro programs operate. But Hetrick urged legislators to await the findings of the contractors before entertaining any changes to the way Retro programs operate.
The next 105-day session of the Legislature starting in January is scheduled to adjourn before one of the contractors completes its review of Retro. The review was requested last year by Gov. Christine Gregoire.
"It's critical that we first evaluate the results of the review and entertain any changes as a group," Hetrick said.
She has been attending monthly meetings with a coalition of business and labor organizations overseeing the Retro review. Hetrick said the group has been focusing on educating labor groups on the complexities of Retro programs.
Retro programs operated by state associations work with employers to better manage their workers' compensation premium costs and return refunds to employers who maintain safe workplaces. The programs also assist injured workers in expediting compensation benefits and medical treatment while assisting them with programs to return to work as soon as possible.
At the last Retro meeting, Hetrick said the group was able to clear up a union misunderstanding that employers were receiving too much interest income through refunds on their workers compensation premiums. The unions didn't understand that the interest income paid to employers was separate from investments Labor and Industry makes on premiums it collects from employers and workers.
Hetrick also learned of a proposal by Sen. Jim Kastama (D-Puyallup) that addresses training and certification standards for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics.
The Washington Retail Association opposes new certification standards that would increase costs to retailers. Though Washington requires training certification for such mechanics, Oregon does not and Idaho requires fewer levels of training, according to Kastama's proposal.
Some members of the HVAC/R task force showed interest in Kastama's proposal. The group plans to meet next week Tuesday, Dec. 2, to further discuss it.
Republicans and Democrats have selected their leaders in various roles for the upcoming session of the State Legislature that convenes for a 105-day session on January 12.
The lineup was reported in The Olympian newspaper following party meetings.
House Republicans re-elected Rep. Richard DeBolt of Chehalis to be their leader. His leadership team will include Rep. Joel Kretz of Waucoda as deputy leader; Rep. Dan Newhouse of Sunnyside as floor leader; Rep. Dan Kristianson of Snohomish as caucus chairman and Rep. Bill Hinkle of Cle Elum as whip.
Mike Hewitt of Walla Wall again will lead Republicans in the Senate. His leadership team will include Sen. Jim Honeyford of Sunnyside as deputy floor leader; Sen. Linda Evans Parlette of Wenatchee as caucus chair; Sen. Mark Schoesler of Ritzville as floor leader; Sen. Dale Brandland of Whatcom County as whip and Sen. Jerome Delvin of Richland as deputy whip.
The Senate Republicans' caucus vice chair will be Cheryl Pflug of Issaquah. The Republican caucus deputy leader role will be handled by Mike Carrell of Lakewood, the Olympian reported.
The retained Democrat leadership will include Speaker of the House Frank Chopp of Seattle; House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler of Hoquiam; and Senate Majority Leaders Lisa Brown of Spokane.
Other Senate Democrat leaders include Tracey Eide of Federal Way as floor leader and Ed Murray of Seattle as caucus chairman.
Democrats were holding a 62-36 majority in the House and a 31-18 majority in Senate at last vote count. Republicans stood to gain at least two Legislature seats despite election victories by Democrats Barack Obama for President and Christine Gregoire for Governor.
DeBolt said he was encouraged by the GOP's gains in the face of a national trend favoring Democrats.
"For House Republicans to gain a seat or two when we were outspent three to one and had to overcome an Obama wave is remarkable," DeBolt told The Olympian. "We moved the margin and look forward to the work ahead the next two years."
Gregoire and the Legislature must pass a budget that wipes out a projected $5 billion revenue shortfall in the next biennial budget. DeBolt appealed to the controlling Democrats to seek a bi-partisan solution to the financial crisis.
"Today, we have the largest budget deficit in state history, health insurance costs are at an all time high, and education and transportation systems face unprecedented challenges," DeBolt said in a news release. "The problems are too big for one party to solve and the best public policy comes from the center. Our hope is the governor and her party will take a few steps in from the left and embrace solutions that are rooted in balance and responsible state spending."
The Washington Retail Association urges Gregoire to keep her campaign promise not to raise taxes to achieve the legally-required balanced budget, which goes into effect next June. Businesses cannot withstand tax increases that would only worsen the current economic downturn, the WRA maintains.
So far, Gregoire has frozen state hiring, equipment purchases and out-of-state travel and personal services contracts, experimented with four-day work weeks with selected state agencies and has warned of deep spending cuts to make up the revenue shortfall.
Spokane to hold "living wage" hearing on Monday
The Spokane City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, Dec. 1 regarding a "living wage" proposal that would apply to large retailers.
Spokane's Peace and Justice Action League has proposed that retailers with stores of 95,000 square feet and larger pay employees who work at least 16 hours a week 135 percent of the state's minimum wage. That would equal $11.54 an hour in 2009.
The council is meeting at 6 p.m. Monday and is expected to ask the activist group to begin gathering the approximately 2,700 signatures it must obtain from voters to qualify the proposal for the November 2009 ballot.
The Washington Retail Association urges members and other parties interested in defeating this proposal to contact the Spokane City Council. The association opposes proposals that would increase costs to retailers trying to survive the current economic downturn.
To reach council members regarding the living wage debate, either address a letter to Office of the City Council, 808 West Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, 99201 or e-mail Mary Franklin, the council's executive assistant, at mfranklin@spokanecity.org. Letters and e-mails will be forwarded to the city's individual council members.
Source: Greater Spokane Incorporated
State launches business tax planning videos
Washington State has launched a multi-agency streaming video that gives new and small businesses easy-to-understand basics on how to plan for, prepare, and pay state business taxes and insurance premiums.
The video guides business owners through the process as they face their tax reports. It answers basic questions, such as:
*Which taxes, and at what rate, businesses will have to pay. *How and when to file state taxes. *What steps business owners should take to plan ahead.
A Dun and Bradstreet study found that 90 percent of small businesses that got help from a Small Business Development Center or other source of expert assistance were still in business after five years. As a result, the video includes a list of resources for businesses seeking help. It is also being distributed to Small Business Development Centers around the state.
If you haven't visited the Washington Retail Association's Website recently, please take another look.
We're putting more information onto the site more frequently as we near the next Legislative session. The quicker pace of additions to the site will continue through the next session and beyond.
A new right-hand column on the homepage now includes periodic video and audio updates on important issues, recent news developments of importance to retailers and several Internal Revenue Service business-related links to help retailers prepare for the upcoming tax season.
Our hope is that WRA members and the public at large will increasingly rely on the Website to keep abreast as issues related to retailers and their well-being surface or change.
And, of course, we invite your feedback and suggestions.
Please contact Jim Szymanski, Director of Public Affairs, with any thoughts you have regarding the additions to the site or further changes you believe might be useful. You can reach Jim either at 360-943-9198, Extension 12 or at jim.szymanski@retailassociation.org.
State revenue shortfall could climb higher State government layoffs could result
Last week, state economists said the projected state budget revenue shortfall had grown to $5 billion due to the economic slowdown.
Then, over this past weekend, Gov. Christine Gregoire said times are so tough the shortfall for the next biennial 2009-2011 budget could climb to $6 billion.
Regardless, more state officials now are predicting that state employee layoffs will have to be considered to arrive at a legally required balanced budget by the spring of next year.
"It's difficult to imagine that we'd be able to balance the budget without there being some reduction in the size of the workforce," said Glenn Kuper, spokesman for the state budget office. Retirements and attrition aren't likely to be sufficient financial sacrifices to close the budget gap, he said.
"I would say it's very likely," state Sen. Margarita Prentice told The Spokesman Review newspaper when asked about layoffs. The Renton Democrats chairs the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
Gregoire campaigned for re-election this year pledging not to raise taxes to balance the budget. The Washington Retail Association has challenged Gregoire to keep her pledge because many businesses cannot afford higher expenses with the economy slowing and sales falling.
Sources: The Spokesman Review, Associated Press
Black Friday shoppers will find deals, NRF says
Shoppers should be pleased to find great bargains with the traditional start of the holiday shopping season on Friday.
"Retailers realize that low prices will get consumers into stores this holiday season," said Tracy Mullin, President and CEO of the National Retail Federation.
Regardless, the slowing economy may mean there will be fewer shoppers out this year, an NRF survey has found. It estimates 128 million people will shop for holiday gifts this weekend, down from 135 million people who said they would shop the same weekend last year.
The NRF added that falling gasoline prices should leave shoppers more encouraged to shop for gifts this year.
In the Olympia area, for example, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.04 this week, down $1.20 per gallon from the average price a year ago, AAA-Washington reports. The Olympia-area record unleaded price of $4.40 was set on June 30 of this year.
NRF on Sunday will release a survey of shoppers this weekend on its Website. To visit the site, click here.
Source: National Retail Federation
More shoppers using cash
Shoppers say they're turning more often to using cash to control spending and manage budgets in the tightening economy.
Kelton Research performed the Nov. 5-10 national survey on behalf of Coinstar Inc., which is based in Bellevue.
So far, about 23 percent of Americans say they are using cash more than last year. The survey found shoppers were primarily worried about increasing their credit card debt in a soft economy.
In other retail trends: *Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, shapes up as a day of more special sales promotions this year compared to a year ago. Cyber Monday has become the traditional kick off for online holiday shopping.
*A National Retail Federation survey found that 83.7 percent of retailers will offer special Cyber Monday promotions this year, up from 72.2 percent last year.
*Shoppers looking to buy "green" gifts apparently have no plans to cut back on spending. About two-thirds of those surveyed said they were willing to spend 10 percent to 25 percent more to buy eco-friendly holiday gifts. The survey was done by retailer Plow Hearth, a subsidiary of 1-800-Flowers, Inc.
Sources: National Retail Federation, Portland Business Journal, New Mexico Business Weekly
Washington Retail Association | 618 Quince St SE, STE A | PO Box 2227 | Olympia | WA | 98501
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.
