Washington Information Network
Washington's resource for political activity and issues important to retail industry professionals. Distributed to 2,800 subscribers
December 18, 2013
 Staff Contacts

 Jan Teague

President/CEO

360.943.9198, ext. 19

[email protected]

 

Mark Johnson

Vice President of Government Affairs

360.943.9198, ext. 15

[email protected]

 

Tammie Hetrick

Vice President of Retail Services (RASI)

360.943.9198, ext. 13

 [email protected]

 

Jim Szymanski

Director of Public Affairs
360.943.9198  ext. 12

 

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In This Issue...
Board of Directors discusses key issues
Transportation focus likely in 2014 session
Legislative vacancies filled
Increase in job vacancies expected
Higher gas tax unpopular, poll shows
WRA joins patent letter to Congress
A two-week break for the newsletter
Watch video overview of WRA's discount shipping partner
WRA shipping partner offers prize sweepstakes
Safety tip
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Board of Directors discusses key issues

By Jan Teague, President/CEO

 

WRA's Board of Directors met last week and discussed the state attorney general's key 2014 session issues. 

 

Attorney General Bob Ferguson spoke to the group explaining that he had four areas that he wants to see the legislature tackle: reimbursing the state in some consumer protection cases; changes to require sexually violent predators to cooperate before they can be considered for parole; an open government proposal and one to support veterans.  The Board discussed putting parameters around professional signature gatherers with Ferguson, who said he would be glad to work through the issue.

 

The Board also met with Senator Rodney Tom, who is very concerned that Boeing may not be competitive in the future given the national competition the company now faces. Their customers won't tolerate any production delays because of strikes.  The cost structure for these planes will be a major factor moving forward over the next 10 years as other states can keep prices down through more competitive labor costs.  Texas already knows how to make planes with its track record making fighter jets. Long Beach, California, Alabama and Utah are also contenders. 

 

Washington is not competitive in a number of areas with other states.  Senator Tom would like the legislature to create a business-friendly environment for such regulations as fish consumption water quality standards where the permit requirements have exceeded our technological ability to comply, essentially shutting down growth.  Senator Tom sees Transportation as one of the biggest issues the legislature will tackle during the 2014 session.

 

In other business, the Board discussed its satisfaction with the defeat of the expansion of rights for professional signature gatherers, Initiative 517, and our financial support to defeat the initiative.  The initiative to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour in SeaTac,  Prop 1, did pass and is very worrisome given that Seattle and Tacoma are looking at similar wage hikes. 

 

The compounding of other costs including increases in health care is going to seriously impact doing business.  Eliminating the use of plastic bags is expected to increase theft in the coming year as a number of jurisdictions now push reusable bags.  Adverse consequences are expected to mount in 2014. 

 

The Board also elected its leaders for 2014. They are  officers Lowell Gordon, the Creative Office,  Board Chair;  Keith Burke, Tacoma JC Penney store manager, Vice Chair;  Chuck Miller, regional manager of government affairs for Macy's, Chair of Government Affairs, and Mindy Baker, State Government Relations for Walgreens, Treasurer.  Others appointed to serve in leadership positions were Madelin White, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Wigs, and Day Spa, Chair of the Small Business Committee, and Charlie Extine, owner of Industrial Tire, will Chair the Retrospective Ratings Program.


Transportation focus likely in 2014 session

New taxes in the offing to pay for it

By Mark Johnson, VP Government Affairs

 

Heading toward the New Year and the 2014 legislative session, the good news for the state is that the budget picture is right about where legislators predicted it would be. 

 

With that in mind, there will not be a great need for legislators to "tweak" the existing two-year budget they approved last session.  Instead the main focus has been and likely will continue to be on addressing transportation needs. 

 

Many stakeholders and legislators are working on a massive, multi-year, multi-billion dollar transportation package.  Legislative leaders have made this one of their top priorities.  Most legislators agree that something needs to be done to improve our transportation system. Be aware that any package could include an increase in the gas tax, weight fees, a motor vehicle excise tax, tolls and other ideas.

 

The big question is what should be done and how much will it cost.  Some legislators want to see reforms in the way current transportation dollars are spent now before approving future funding. 

 

I suspect a large portion of the 2014 Session will be dedicated to debating transportation.  There is also a possibility that a package may be put before the voters for consideration.  This is an important issue and vital to our state's economy. 

 


Legislative vacancies filled

 

County councils have filled two vacancies in the state Legislature in recent days.

 

The Metropolitan King County Council appointed Deputy SeaTac Mayor Mia Gregerson to the state House seat vacated when Dave Upthegrove was elected to the County Council last November. Read more about the selection here.

 

Also, the Snohomish County Council selected June Robinson to fill the House vacancy of John McCoy, who is moving to a state Senate seat. Robinson has been working as a program manager for King County Public Health since 2012. Read more about her appointed here.

 

Sources: Seattle Times, Everett Herald


Increase in job vacancies expected, state reports

 

Employment Security reports it expects twice as many job vacancies to be available next spring as last year at the same time.

 

The department surveys employers twice a year about their job vacancies and new hiring. Most of the vacancies are expected to be in the western and urban parts of the state.

 

The survey is another sign of recovery from the recession of the past couple of years.

 

While vacancies have been rising, wages have not been. The average starting wage for new jobs earlier this year was $13.67 an hour compared to $15.45 the same time in 2012. Employment Security said more of this year's openings were in entry-level positions compared to last year.

 

For more details about the survey, click here.

 

Source: Employment Security


Higher gas tax unpopular, poll shows

A new poll shows that voters oppose a new gasoline tax hike to pay for state transportation improvements by a 2 to 1 margin.

The Gallatin Public Affairs and GS Strategy Group poll was conducted in November among 674 likely voters across the state.  It comes as state legislators are privately discussing a possible state transportation improvement package to possibly be discussed early next year.

The results found that 52.3 percent of those polled strongly oppose an 11-cent hike in the tax. Overall, those polled opposed a tax hike by a 66-31 margin.

For more details on this and other issues in the poll, click here.

Source: Washington State Wire


WRA joins patent letter to Congress

 

WRA has joined several other retail associations that signed a National Retail Association letter to Congress this week seeking to strengthen a bill to protect businesses from illegitimate patent claims.

 

S. 1720 seeks to discourage "patent trolls" from continuing the trend of seeking financial settlements that companies cannot afford regarding illegitimate patent claims. It often is cheaper for the companies to settle than pay for a legal defense against the false claims.

 

The letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy says that many businesses are receiving several abusive demand letters each year seeking settlements to pay licensing fees.

 

Click here to read the full letter. 


A two-week break for the newsletter

 

We at WRA hope that most of our weekly readers are taking time to enjoy the holidays with their friends and families.

 

We therefore will not send out a newsletter the weeks of Christmas or New Year's and extend our wish that you all share a safe and happy holiday with your loved ones.

 

We will resume weekly distribution of the Washington Information Network newsletter on Wednesday, January 8.

 

Happy holidays!

 

Watch video overview of WRA's discount shipping partner

 

WRA's third-party shipping provider, PartnerShip, has released a short video overview of the discount services it offers customers.

 

As a WRA member, you could begin saving up to 27 percent on select FedEx shipping services by joining PartnerShip free of charge.

 

Four other possible advantages of joining PartnerShip include:

 

*Routing management. Based on an analysis of shipments, PartnerShip will recommend the best shippers for particular routes. The recommendation is based on a carrier's cost effectiveness and customer service.

 

*Bill auditing. Vendors such as PartnerShip say they often find invoices with rate errors of up to 10 percent in favor of the freight carrier. Corrections are made before the third-party vendor sends the bill to the customer.

 

*Improved inbound shipping. By relying on vendors to control your inbound shipping, it can be difficult to learn how and when your orders will be shipped and delivered. You can gain that knowledge by arranging shipping through a third party partner such as PartnerShip.

 

*Consolidated invoices. For frequent shippers, this can mean paying only one bill weekly or monthly as opposed to paying for each shipment.

 

Click here to watch the video overview of the company and obtain contact information. Also, visit PartnerShip's website and its improved, separate shipping website. 

WRA shipping partner offers prize sweepstakes

 

WRA members who sign up for shipping savings through PartnerShip, 

affiliated with WRA, will qualify for a prize sweepstakes through the FedEx shipping service.

 

Joining Partnership automatically qualifies a company to enter the contest. Also, each shipment through PartnerShip between Nov. 4 and Dec. 27 will qualify a company for additional contest entries, up to a limit of 50 entries.

 

Prizes include a $10,000 grand prize, a $2,500 first price and weekly drawings for $100 American Express gift cards. Click here to learn more about the contest and to enroll in Partnership.

 

As an enrolled WRA member of PartnerShip, companies can save up to 27 percent on select FedEx services.

 

Safety tip: (one in a series)

Required workplace posters are free

Labor & Industries wants to clear up some confusion about bills that some businesses have been receiving about buying required workplace posters.

It's true that businesses are required to display such posters that typically address issues such as the current minimum wage, employee rights, job safety and first aid. You can buy these posters, but L&I offers them for free.

A current mass mailing has confused many business owners who were led to believe they would be fined if they did not buy the posters for $295, L&I reported.

"Our staff has received lots of calls regarding what appears to be a bill for government posters," said Anne Foote-Soiza, assistant director of L&I's Division of Occupation Health and Safety. "L&I wants everyone to understand these posters are free for the asking."

The free state required posters are available from any L&I office or by calling 1-866-219-7321 or downloading from the L&I website at posters.Lni.wa.gov.  Rick Means, WRA's Safety and Claims Administrator, says that you may also contact him for the current list of active posters.

Rick also is available to members to help draw up safety plans and suggest topics for safety meetings. Contact him at 360-200-6454, or [email protected]

 

 

 

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