Overspending and sluggish state government revenue reports have prompted a challenge to legislators from Richard Davis, coordinator of the Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy.
A 60 percent growth in state spending since 2000, coupled with adding 6,100 new full-time equivalent state employees since 2004, is the root of the state's financial problems, including a projected $2.7 billion revenue shortfall in the coming budget cycle, Davis argues.
"Although the recession has magnified the shortfall, overspending dug the hole," Davis writes in the Puget Sound Business Journal.
A report this month from the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council bolsters Davis's call to action: *General fund tax payments to the state were nearly $60 million in the month ending August 10, which was 5 percent lower than expected. *In the first six months of this year, state revenue growth slowed to 0.7 percent, down significantly from growth rates of 8.9 percent the first half of last year and 5.9 percent the second half of the year. *Tax payments from retailers were down 2.4 percent last month and have declined six of the past seven months on a year-over-year basis. *The real estate market, another significant state revenue source, continues to show declines. Real estate tax receipts this past July were down 43.4 percent compared to a year ago while the number of June real estate transactions was down 28.4 percent compared to a year ago.
In his written commentary, Davis urged legislators not to raise taxes.
"Increasing taxes will exert a further drag on the economy, reducing capital investments and costing workers jobs," Davis writes. "Washington businesses already pay more than half of all state and local taxes, well above the national average."
Davis urged legislators to begin offering solutions now, not after the November elections, when he said the state's revenue shortfalls could worsen.
"The state's looming budget crisis will overshadow everything else on the legislative agenda next January," Davis writes. "Candidates for public office should be presenting their solutions now."
Sources: State revenue collection report; Puget Sound Business Journal
Grocers seek public vote on Seattle bag tax
The Washington Food Industry has begun a referendum signature campaign to repeal Seattle's proposed 20-cent tax on disposable paper and plastic shopping bags.
If the signature campaign succeeds, voters would get a chance to decide if the proposed tax goes into effect. The group of independent grocers must gather 14,374 valid voter signatures by Aug. 28 to qualify the question on the 2009 ballot.
The Stop the Seattle Bag Tax Coalition this week launched a Website with more information on the campaign at stoptheseattlebagtax.com. The site includes an estimate that disposable bag users would pay an average tax of $300 a year to comply with the Seattle law, set to take effect in January.
The Washington Retail Association foresees unnecessary costs and potential health threats from the council's proposal. The tax will be a financial burden and inconvenience on many consumers and it will result in considerable and unnecessary new business costs to implement and continue the new tax. Further, there are health concerns with moving to reusable shopping bags if consumers fail to keep them clean and thereby transfer germs from previously-carried food products.
WRA has supported recycling tied to a public education campaign as an alternative to the Seattle proposal. WRA President and CEO Jan Teague believes the association's stance better ensures the viability of its members while achieving the same outcomes of a healthy, clean and sustainable environment. She therefore has at minimum urged putting Seattle's proposal on hold until a thorough pilot program can be conducted to avoid the unintended consequences that concern the association.
Sources: Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle Post Intelligencer
State puts work on child safety law on pause
An advisory committee working on writing a state child safety law has postponed its work to put more study into a federal law that is in the works.
The Washington Retail Association repeatedly has urged a federal solution to make toys safer for children rather than a state-by-state patchwork of laws and regulations.
Mark Johnson, Vice President of Government Affairs for WRA, attended the state advisory committee meeting last month where it was reported that President Bush soon could be signing a federal bill into law. After that meeting, the state committee reported it was suspending rule marking pending more review of federal efforts to make toys safer for children.
If you have questions about this issue, contact Johnson at 360-943-9198, Extension 15 or at mark.johnson@retailassociation.org.
Source: Department of Ecology
Supreme Court to hear case involving withheld wages
The state Supreme Court has decided to hear an appeal of a lower court case that found that owners of a bankrupt restaurant and casino willfully failed to pay employees, making the business owners liable for financial penalties.
The Court of Appeals held that owners of the former SeaTac business willfully withheld wages although a bankruptcy judge refused to allow them to pay the wages.
The Washington Retail Association is part of a business group that asked the Supreme Court to review the case in hopes of overturning the ruling.
A review by the state's highest court is a positive step toward protecting well-meaning business owners from unfair financial penalties.
Sources: The Supreme Court of Washington, Association of Washington Business
Voters oppose federal bill to wipe out secret union ballots
New polling in three states shows widespread opposition to a federal proposal that would take away the secret ballot for union organizing campaigns in workplaces.
Under the so-called "card check" proposal, private ballots would be replaced with a card check scheme where a union would automatically be recognized if a majority of workers signed a card saying they wanted to join a union. The card check legislation is known as the Employee Free Choice Act.
The AFL-CIO and various unions including the United Food and Commercial Workers Union have vowed to make passage of the law a top priority after the November election, according to a Wall Street Journal story this month.
But voters surveyed in Louisiana, New Hampshire and New Mexico showed widespread opposition to eliminating the secret ballot in union elections. Each of these states is considered critical toward assembling sufficient support in the Senate to defeat the Employee Free Choice Act, the Food Marketing Institute reports.
Survey results related to the bill showed opposition from two-thirds of Louisiana voters, seven in 10 New Hampshire voters and nearly eight in 10 New Mexico voters. Those surveyed said they considered the secret ballot a cornerstone of democracy that should be maintained. The survey also found that support for Democrats running in these states softened if they supported the bill.
In a related note, former Congressman, Senator and Democratic Party Presidential nominee George McGovern broke ranks with his union supporters in opposing the bill, calling it "a disturbing and undemocratic overreach not in the interest of either management or labor."
Sources: Wall Street Journal; Food Marketing Institute
My Party Should Respect Secret Union Ballots
By GEORGE MCGOVERN
August 8, 2008
As a congressman, senator and one-time Democratic nominee for the presidency, I've participated in my share of vigorous public debates over issues of great consequence. And the public has been free to accept or reject the decisions I made when they walked into a ballot booth, drew the curtain and cast their vote. I didn't always win, but I always respected the process.
Voting is an immense privilege.
That is why I am concerned about a new development that could deny this freedom to many Americans. As a longtime friend of labor unions, I must raise my voice against pending legislation I see as a disturbing and undemocratic overreach not in the interest of either management or labor.
The legislation is called the Employee Free Choice Act, and I am sad to say it runs counter to ideals that were once at the core of the labor movement. Instead of providing a voice for the unheard, EFCA risks silencing those who would speak.
The key provision of EFCA is a change in the mechanism by which unions are formed and recognized. Instead of a private election with a secret ballot overseen by an impartial federal board, union organizers would simply need to gather signatures from more than 50% of the employees in a workplace or bargaining unit, a system known as "card-check." There are many documented cases where workers have been pressured, harassed, tricked and intimidated into signing cards that have led to mandatory payment of dues. Under EFCA, workers could lose the freedom to express their will in private, the right to make a decision without anyone peering over their shoulder, free from fear of reprisal. There's no question that unions have done much good for this country. Their tenacious efforts have benefited millions of workers and helped build a strong middle class. They gave workers a new voice and pushed for laws that protect individuals from unfair treatment. They have been a friend to the Democratic Party, and so I oppose this legislation respectfully and with care.
To my friends supporting EFCA I say this: We cannot be a party that strips working Americans of the right to a secret-ballot election. We are the party that has always defended the rights of the working class. To fail to ensure the right to vote free of intimidation and coercion from all sides would be a betrayal of what we have always championed.
Some of the most respected Democratic members of Congress -- including Reps. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, George Miller and Pete Stark of California, and Barney Frank of Massachusetts -- have advised that workers in developing countries such as Mexico insist on the secret ballot when voting as to whether or not their workplaces should have a union. We should have no less for employees in our country.
I worry that there has been too little discussion about EFCA's true ramifications, and I think much of the congressional support is based on a desire to give our friends among union leaders what they want. But part of being a good steward of democracy means telling our friends "no" when they press for a course that in the long run may weaken labor and disrupt a tried and trusted method for conducting honest elections.
While it is never pleasant to stand against one's party or one's friends, there are times when such actions are necessary -- as with my early and lonely opposition to the Vietnam War. I hope some of my friends in Congress will re-evaluate their support for this legislation. Because as Americans, we should strive to ensure that all of us enjoy the freedom of expression and freedom from fear that is our ideal and our right.
Mr. McGovern is a former senator from South Dakota and the 1972 Democratic presidential candidate.
AWB to work on a business-friendly health care proposal
Washington's business community may propose an alternative to state Legislature ideas for reforming health care beginning in the 2009 session.
Members of an Association of Washington Business health care committee agreed this week to study formulating a proposal that would oppose new coverage mandates that increase costs to businesses.
Committee members noted that moderate Democrats are looking for alternatives to the current health care reform considerations before the Legislature. Committee members also hoped to spark more interest among employers in the debate by drafting a business-friendly proposal.
The committee agreed to aim for a December deadline for a proposal, when the Association of Washington Business holds a board of directors meeting.
Current state concepts call for a health care work group, including citizens and legislators, to spend next year studying several reforms. They include mandate-free coverage for adults aged 19 to 35 and guaranteed catastrophic and/or standard coverage for all state residents;
The AWB committee prefers private sector, market based solutions to providing health care free of government mandates that threaten the livelihoods of businesses.
If you have questions about this issue, contact Mark Johnson, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Washington Retail Association, at 360-943-9198, Extension 15 or at mark.johnson@retailassociation.org.
Source: AWB health care committee meeting
A reminder to vote on primary day
The G.R.O.W. Program (Growing Roots for Our Workforce) reminds Washington Retail Association members and all state residents to prepare for and participate in the Aug. 19 primary elections.
Absentee ballots have been mailed. In addition to mail voting, King and Pierce County voters have the option of voting at polling places. If you did not receive a ballot in the mail, use the GROW EZ vote system to find your polling place in King and Pierce counties by visiting the program Website at growwa.com. The Website includes information on candidates' backgrounds and their positions on issues.
Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on primary day.
Registration is now open for the Governor's Safety and Health Conference.
Thousands of workers are injured, and sadly, more than 100 Washington workers die from job-related injuries each year. Many of these injuries and losses are preventable. The conference provides resources to assist in design and maintenance of a sound safety and healthy culture at your workplace. The benefits include; reduced injuries, less time lost from work, money saved on industrial insurance premiums and an increase in profits. The comprehensive safety skills gained will benefit you far beyond the workplace.
There are two great pre-conference sessions, one dealing with wellness for commercial drivers that is a MUST SEE for any type of driver working out of their vehicle. This will take place Tuesday, September 23, 8:30am - 4:30pm at the DoubleTree Hotel, Spokane Falls Ballroom. For more information, please contact Sharon Drozdowsky at (360) 902-4622 or dros235@LNI.wa.gov . This is valuable for delivery drivers too!
The second session deals with Solutions for an Aging Workforce. Many workplaces are confronted by the demographic reality of an aging workforce. While older workers do have particular needs, solutions must take into account the needs of workers at all stages of their careers and lives. The course will examine specific issues, including workplace design for safety and health; work/life balance; maintaining health as we age; the roles of employers, employees, the larger community, and public policy in addressing this demographic change. For more information, visit http://nwcenter.washington.edu or contact Maribeth Moore, Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety, 206-543-1069 or moomoore@u.washington.edu.
Registration is now open for the Governor's 2008 Economic and Workforce Development Conference, Sept. 3-4, in Lynnwood.
Learn new strategies, applaud best practices and make important connections that will help move your workforce development organization forward.
The conference features: · An update from Gov. Chris Gregoire on The Next Washington. · Recognition of 2008 Economic and Workforce Development Award winners. · Cutting-edge workshops on industry clusters, Innovation Partnership Zones and the green economy. · Compelling breakout sessions to help your organization thrive in a global marketplace.
Register now and qualify for the early-bird registration fee of $150. After Aug. 8, it's $200. Tickets to this two-day event include continental breakfast, lunch and an evening reception.
Join us and learn new ways to keep Washington's economy and workforce moving ahead!
Washington Workforce Development News: Keep posted with the latest workforce development news in Washington state. Reply to this message if you would like to receive our brief weekly e-mail news.
The Washington Attorney General (AG) announced these upcoming free community shred events and free identity theft prevention forums providing opportunities to shred important personally identifiable documents. Bring your documents to be shredded!
Below is a list of upcoming events. You can find more information and additional shredding sites online at www.atg.wa.gov/shredathon.aspx.
CENTRALIA: Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Location TBA. Guard It! identity theft forum with Attorney General Rob McKenna: Noon to 1:30 pm.Shredding donated by LeMay
GOLDENDALE: Tentatively planned for Wednesday, September 10, 2008. Location TBA. In conjunction with Guard It! identity theft forum with Attorney General Rob McKenna.
TACOMA: Ongoing, Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tacoma Recycling Co., Inc., 2318 South Tacoma Way Offers free document destruction for private individuals who bring in less than 10 pounds of material during regular business hours. Consumers may witness their papers being destroyed. Businesses will be charged for this service. Info: (253) 474-9559
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.
