Governor To Sign NFIB-Backed Health-Care Costs Bill

At a bill-signing ceremony scheduled for this morning at 10:30 a.m. in his office, Gov. Jay Inslee will put his signature on a measure that NFIB led the coordination and legislative passage of: An All-Payer Claims Database (APCD) that will eventually empower everyone in Washington state to compare quality and costs among health-care providers.

“Pairing cost and quality metrics in an All-Payer Claims Database is our best hope of educating and empowering employers to identify or design health-benefits plans that meet the needs of their particular workforce, and ultimately, give families and individuals access to meaningful information to guide their health-care purchasing decisions,” said Patrick Connor, Washington state director for America’s leading small-business association, the National Federation of Independent Business.

According to a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Basics of All-Payer Claims Databases, “APCDs are large-scale databases that systematically collect medical claims, pharmacy claims, dental claims (typically, but not always), and eligibility and provider files from private and public payers. The first statewide APCD system was established in Maine in 2003 … Currently, more than 30
states have, are implementing, or have strong interest in APCDs.”

Senate Bill 5084, which the governor will sign into law today, had strong support among small businesses, health-care providers and patient organizations with 35 groups supporting the bill when it was initially heard in the Senate Health Care Committee and 27 groups signing in support of the House version of the bill. No group stated opposition to the bill.

SB 5084 corrects flaws in a law passed by the Legislature last year to establish an APCD. Among the problems with the existing law was that it lacked a requirement for all health insurers to submit their data. Experience in other states has shown that without a mandate, it is impossible to provide a comprehensive picture of the cost and quality of health care.

Data that would be submitted under the new law would include financial information, which would allow for analyses about health-care value—meaning quality and cost information about the cost of episodes of care, such as hospitalizations, which had not previously been broadly available.

Because the cost and availability of health care has been the No. 1 worry of small-business owners for 30 years, Connor took the lead in coordinating the activities of the Coalition for Health Care Cost Transparency. “It has been a two-year effort to enact and perfect the statutory framework authorizing a true All-Payer Claims Database for Washington state, but once it is fully up and running, employers, consumers, providers, and even policymakers should see the immense value of it in making health-care providers more competitive, the result of which will make medical coverage more affordable while improving outcomes for patients.”

AWB Institute Celebrates First Leadership Washington Graduates

The first-ever class of Leadership Washington, AWB Institute’s (AWBI) premiere program  to cultivate and educate the next generation of Washington industry leaders graduated recently. A ceremony was held at AWB’s annual Spring Meeting in Spokane.

Kicked off at AWB’s Policy Summit last September and sponsored by Battelle, the class of nine Leadership Washington members met six times over nine months at different locations across the state. At each session, participants were exposed to diverse industry sectors, including agriculture, energy, health care, high-tech, military and manufacturing.

“The mission of Leadership Washington is to develop articulate, thoughtful and well-informed leaders who can guide Washington state industry in a globally-competitive economy,” said AWBI Director Amy Anderson. “Based on what we saw from this group, Washington’s future looks bright. Going into the program, these were all smart, motivated young professionals. Thanks to their experiences in Leadership Washington, they now have a deeper knowledge of Washington’s diverse economy. They also gained valuable connections that should serve them well in the coming years.”

Timing for the program could not be better. The oldest of the baby boomers turned 65 in 2011 and each day an estimated 10,000 additional members reach retirement age. Equipping the generation to fill that employment gap is critical.

“Dubbed the ‘silver tsunami,’ baby boomers are leaving the workforce in large numbers, many of whom are vacating top leadership positions,” said Kris Johnson, president of the Association of Washington Business. “That’s why it was so important for AWBI to put in place a top notch program that helps employers identify and prepare tomorrow’s leaders today.”

Members of Leadership Washington’s inaugural class are:

• Paige Davis, Lane Powell PC, Seattle


• Ben Doornink, St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Spokane


• Emily Fleury, Inland Northwest Health Services, Spokane


• Annette Herup, SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers, Moses Lake


• David Howell, Avista, Spokane


• Valerie Langston, State Farm, Tacoma


• Gordon Matlock, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, Richland


• Philip Schafer, State Farm, Tacoma


• Tonia Sorrell-Neal, Washington State Conference of Mason Contractors, Kirkland

The Institute is currently recruiting for the second class that will hold its first meeting at the AWB Policy Summit Sept. 15-17. For more information and how to apply to the program, contact Amy Anderson at360.943.1600 or AmyA@awb.org.

 

About the Association of Washington Business

Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 7,900 members representing 700,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.

AWB presents environmental excellence, leadership awards

The Association of Washington Business has recognized five employers that are finding creative ways to incorporate environmental sustainability within their businesses with their Environmental Excellence Award. The group also honored retired U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings with its C. David Gordon Award for his many years of service, and two state business and public service leaders for their dedication to making Washington state a great place to live, work and raise a family.

From a world-class laboratory to a bag making and printing company and a top business leader to former member of Congress, this year’s award recipients represent the diversity for which the state is known. The award winners were presented their statue at the annual AWB Spring Meeting luncheon and dinner events in Spokane.

The 23nd annual AWB Environmental Excellence Awards were presented by Jim Bruce, senior vice president for public affairs, energy and environment for UPS. The award winners are:

Sustainable Communities & Green Buildings

• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland. Follow them on Twitter: @PNNLab
  
  

Resource Conservation/Pollution Prevention

• Shields Bag & Printing Co., Yakima.

 

Resource Conservation/Pollution Prevention

• IEDS Logistics, Spokane.

 

Leading Environmental Practices

• ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, Kennewick. Follow them on Twitter:  @ConAgraFoods

 

Leading Environmental Practices

• Avista Utilities, Spokane. Follow them on Twitter: @AvistaUtilities

 

The leadership and service awards were presented by AWB President Kris Johnson at the evening dinner event. This year’s award recipients are:

1. David Gordon Award

• Former Congressman Doc Hastings

 

Judy Coovert Award

• Catherine Brazil, Cowles Company, Spokane

 

Bruce Briggs Award

• Gebbers Farms, Brewster

AWB President Kris Johnson congratulated this year’s award winners for upholding the values of service, sacrifice and stewardship.

“These companies and state leaders we honored today are exceptional, but they are not the exception,” Johnson said. “They represent how businesses across our state and in every sector set environmental goals and then seek new and innovative ways to reach them. And, we’re blessed to have great business and elected leaders in Washington that share our collective goal to leave a legacy of hard work and commitment to grow strong communities.”

Complete information on the award winners is listed in this year’s awards program. High-resolution photos of the event and award winners will be available soon on AWB’s website. Videos featuring each Environmental Excellence Award recipient’s company will also be available online.

 

About the Association of Washington Business

Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 7,900 members representing 700,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.

Taste Washington on the Farm

Join Taste Washington on Friday, March 27 for a new experience where you will visit local farms and meet the people who grow and produce gourmet, artisanal products from the beautiful Pacific Northwest. At each unique excursion you will meet the farmers, get your boots dirty and enjoy a variety of delicious food and wine.

There are three distinctively different experiences to choose from, including an exploration of the artisanal cheese movement with Kurtwood Farms on Vashon Island, a farm-to-table lunch featuring ultra-fresh produce in the lush Snohomish Valley, and a deep dive into oyster growing at Taylor Shellfish on Samish Bay.

Purchase your tickets today to be a part of this new and unique culinary experience. Space is extremely limited.

CITC Hires New Regional Coordinator and Opens Spokane Facility

The Construction Industry Training Council of Washington (CITC) has hired Ken Hill as the Eastern Washington regional coordinator. He will be responsible for CITC’s newest facility in Spokane, Wash. CITC also has facilities in Bellevue and Vancouver, Wash.

Hill graduated from CITC and became a journeyman electrician in 1993. Then, after working in the field, he took further training with CITC and earned an administrator certification for the state of Washington in 1999. He was the president of Mastercraft Electric for two years then opened his own firm, KM Electric.

He has served on CITC’s electrical apprenticeship committee since 1995 and has been an instructor for CITC since 2014. He will split his time between Bellevue and Spokane until June so he can fulfill his teaching commitment at CITC’s Tacoma location for the balance of this school year.

“Opening this new facility fulfills a huge need for trained construction workers in Eastern Washington,” said CITC president, Halene Sigmund. “We currently have more than 60 apprentices who will be attending classes in Spokane and have the capacity to easily double that number.” The nearly 13,000-square-foot space will house classrooms, labs and staff offices. “Within the next two years we anticipate some major growth in the Spokane area and plan to meet the needs of the industry with excellent apprenticeship and craft training opportunities for those who want to become skilled craft workers,” said Sigmund

When begin classes begin this September CITC will provide apprenticeship training for carpenters electricians, laborers and plumbers, If there is sufficient demand, HVAC classes will also be offered. In addition the facility will run continuing education classes for electrical and plumbing license renewals and task training courses such as crew leader and project supervisor certificate classes.

The Spokane facility is located at10424 W. Aero Road in Spokane. For information call 1-877-707-2482m or visit the CITC website at: http://www.citcwa.com/

About CITC

CITC provides state-approved apprenticeship and craft training in the carpentry, electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, heavy equipment operator, painting, plumbing, laborers, residential electrical, low energy and sheet metal trades. CITC also runs continuing education classes for license renewal for plumbers and electricians. The program is dedicated to training, developing and retaining a skilled labor force for the construction industry and is both a nationally accredited and state-approved apprenticeship training program.

AWB Statement on Benefits of Aerospace in Washington

The Association of Washington Business, Washington state’s largest business organization representing small, medium and large employers, issued the following statement from AWB President Kris Johnson regarding the Legislature’s attempt, through yesterday’s introduction of House Bill 2147, to erode the state’s competitiveness by reducing successful incentives for aerospace companies:

“Washington state is an aerospace hub for hundreds of employers who employ thousands people, who supply parts and innovate to make the sector successful and make Washington a great place to live.

“The fact is, aerospace incentives provide a significant return to Washington’s taxpayers. According to the state’s own estimate, the 2013 incentives will generate more than $21.3 billion in state and local tax revenue over 16 years —nearly three dollars in increased revenue for each dollar of incentives. This money will pay for vital public services including education, social services and infrastructure.

“Threatening to reduce the incentives is counterintuitive to the one sure-fire way to improve the state’s budget situation – get people back to work. These incentives not only encourage job growth in the aerospace industry, but they boost the whole economy.

“While it may be popular to focus on Boeing, hundreds of companies take advantage of the aerospace tax incentive, or other tax preferences, approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor. Reducing incentives sends the wrong message to current and potential employers about Washington’s business climate and severely harms the state’s competitiveness.

“AWB has a long history of advocating for job creation as a way to uplift communities and make the economy strong in every corner of the state. Unfortunately, this measure would do just the opposite. I urge the Legislature to put Washington’s competitive advantages above the fray. The many workers in all job sectors who depend on a strong aerospace industry need certainty that the jobs they have today will be heretomorrow.”

About the Association of Washington Business

Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 8,200 members representing 700,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.

Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers Announces Annual Awards

The Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers announced annual awards for Grower of the Year, Industry Service, Lifetime Achievement, Restaurant Appreciation and Posters at their convention which was held in Kennewick last week.

Awards were:

GROWER OF THE YEAR

Robert Rivera, of Goose Ridge Winery received the Erick Hanson Memorial Wine Grape Grower Award for exceptional viticultural skills. Rivera is known for his wealth of experience in the wine industry and his tireless dedication to the betterment of vine structure, canopy management, and all the integral parts that keep a vineyard growing & thriving. Amongst his colleagues, he is recognized for his loyalty, wisdom, and commitment to quality.

INDUSTRY SERVICE

Kevin Corliss, of St. Michelle Winery Estates received the Industry Service Award for his tireless dedication on behalf of and for the continual improvement and benefit of the wine grape industry. Since 1983 when he first began at St. Michelle as a lab assistant intern he is now Vice President of Vineyard Operations and his passion for the industry and years of experience has made him one of the most trusted people in the industry.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Rich Wheeler, of St. Michelle Winery Estates received a Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize his outstanding service to the Washington grape and wine industry. Wheeler started his career with St. Michelle in 1979 and retired in 2010 as Vice President of Vineyards. The development of vineyards especially in the Horse Heaven Hills and Red Mountain regions is just one of his accomplishments that he takes pride in especially because of the simple love for planting vines.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Each year a restaurant is selected that does an exceptional job of showcasing and educating diners about Washington wines. This year’s recipient was the Seaview restaurant, 42^nd Street Café & Bistro. Serving food to residents, friends and visitors of Oregon’s north and Washington’s south coasts since 1994, the Seattle Times raves that it is “a casual restaurant that is serious about food”. The food is accompanied by an attentive staff and an impeccable wine list that features many of Washington’s best. 

POSTERS

Posters provide an opportunity for students, educators, researchers, and other professionals to present new information and discuss the work they are doing with wine and grape industry stakeholders. Displays provide information on a variety of topics including wine and grape research, wine marketing and promotion, extension and educational outreach, educational class projects, technology transfer, tax and/or assessment funded industry support, or institutional research funding.

Posters were judged by industry stakeholders and prizes were awarded in three categories: Graduate, Undergraduate and Professional.

Professional

 

1^st Place:

Trent Ball¹, Ray Folwell¹, Doug Walsh² and Naidu Rayapati<sup>3

1</sup>Agri-Business Consultants, LLC., Prosser, WA 98930, Departments of ²Entomology and ³Plant Pathology, Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Prosser, WA

TOPIC: Is ‘Grape Virus Tax’ hitting your Pocketbooks?

 

2^nd Place:

Richard C. Larsen¹ and Maria M. Mireles¹ and James F. Harbertson<sup>1

1</sup>School of Food Science, Washington State University, Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Prosser, Washington

TOPIC: Impacts of Grape Maturity and Ethanol Concentration on Wine Tannin Concentration

 

3^rd Place:

Markus Keller¹, Laura S. Deyermond^1,2, Sushan Ru³, Bhaskar R. Bondada<sup>3

1</sup>Washington State University, Prosser, Washington, ²Windsor Oaks Vineyards and Winery, Windsor, California, ³Washington State University, Richland, Washington

TOPIC: The ‘Big Vine’ Effect: Why Vigor Declines in Grapevines With High Shoot Numbers

 

Graduate

 

1^st Place:

Golnaz Badr and Gerrit Hoogenboom

AgWeatherNet, Washington State University, Prosser, Washington

TOPIC: Site Selection of Vineyards

 

2^nd Place:

Leslie A. Holland¹, Gary G. Grove², Dean A. Glawe<sup>1

1</sup>Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington ²Department of Plant Pathology, Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Prosser, Washington

TOPIC: A Reassessment of Grapevine Trunk Diseases in Washington State Vineyards

 

3rd Place:

Zachary M. Cartwright and Charles G. Edwards, School of Food Science, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington

TOPIC: Evaluation of the Survival of Brettanomyces bruxellensis in Grape Pomace

 

Undergraduate

 

1^st Place:

Joe Sperry and Thomas Spotteck

TOPIC: Growth Characteristics, Fruit Composition and Wine Quality of Syrah as a Function of Trellis System

 

2^nd Place (tie):

Leslie Walker¹, Basavaraj Bagewadi², Prashant Swamy², Andrew Schultz³ and Naidu Rayapati<sup>2,*

1</sup>Undergraduate Student Intern, V&E Program, WSU-Tri-Cities, Richland, WA, ²Department of Plant Pathology, WSU-IAREC, Prosser, WA and ³Hattrup Farms Inc., Wapato, WA

TOPIC: A new soil-borne virus disease in Washington vineyards

 

2^nd Place (tie):

Brooke Kietzman and Jameson Clark

TOPIC: Riesling - Fining Trials Pre-Fermentation vs Post-Fermentation

AWB to Governor Inslee: Keep Focus on Economy

Now is the time to build on the success of Washington’s slowly improving economy by making smart investments that will result in expanded opportunity for everyone, according to Kris Johnson, president of the Association of Washington Business.

Imposing a costly new cap-and-trade tax on some of the state’s best employers, raising the state’s highest-in-the-nation minimum wage and eliminating tax incentives on select industries threatens to derail the recovery we have waited on for so long, Johnson said Tuesday in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s “State of the State” address.

“Employers care deeply about Washington’s environment and they are an important reason that our state is among the greenest in the country,” Johnson said. “The best way to make progress is to build upon our past success, not to impose a punitive new tax on employers, branding them with the label ‘polluter’ and jeopardizing jobs at a time when the unemployment rate is finally moving in the right direction.

In his speech, the governor said his plan would make ‘polluters’ pay for transportation investments rather than raising the gas tax on everyone. In fact, the governor’s cap-and-trade proposal will amount to a new $1 billion energy tax that will hit every family that buys gasoline, heats their homes and purchases products.

It’s true that Washington faces some big challenges, including how to fund education and transportation improvements, and we are pleased to hear the governor highlight those issues in his address.

Unfortunately, the governor’s previously-outlined plan to link funding for schools and roads to an untested, unsustainable cap-and-trade tax system does not address the state’s long-term needs, harms our ability to compete in a global economy, and diverts attention from our top priorities.

Employers understand that investing in education is not just a requirement of the Supreme Court’s McCleary ruling, but it is also one of the keys to Washington’s economic health.

Likewise, Washington’s employers need a transportation network that gets products to market in this trade-dependent state, and gets people to their jobs in a safe, efficient manner. So we share the governor’s desire for progress on this issue.

But as the governor and lawmakers embark on a new legislative session, it’s important they remember that despite some positive economic signs, the recovery is still fragile and it has not reached all parts of the state. Now is not the time to abandon fiscal responsibility and adopt a tax-first approach to governing.

On behalf of more than 8,300 private employers, we look forward to working alongside the governor and all lawmakers to find bipartisan solutions to our collective challenges, building upon our past successes, and positioning our state for economic growth.”

About the Association of Washington Business
Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 8,300 members representing 700,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit www.awb.org.

Join Us for a March on Main Street on Small Business Saturday Nov. 29

By Jay Inslee and Patrick Connor

We’re calling on all Washingtonians to join us for a March on Main Street, Saturday, November 29.

The cause: A better economy, longer-than-seasonal employment opportunities and tighter-knit communities– all of which are the bedrock of a vibrant society. And all it takes to accomplish these goals is for each of us to spend more of our money with the small businesses lining the Main Streets of our state.

Everyone is familiar with Black Friday, the post-Thanksgiving gift shopping frenzy, when masses of people converge on shopping malls, raising their stress levels and blood pressure. But if you were to save some of your holiday shopping and energy for Small BusinessSaturday, you would be doing much more not only for your own health, but also for our state’s economy.

Begun in 2010, the campaign to shop small has yielded big dividends for America’s and Washington state’s economy. Last year, shoppers spent $5.7 billion at locally-owned shops and restaurants on Small Business Saturday, according to a survey conducted by American Express and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). And last year’s total marked a 3.6 percent increase over the previous year.

This same survey indicates that on average, shoppers estimate nearly one-third of their holiday shopping will be done at small businesses. Additional benefits to shopping Main Street speak to the importance of community:

• Nearly all (94 percent) of U.S. consumers say that shopping at small businesses make them “feel good”


• Two-thirds (66 percent) of consumers say the main reason they patronize small businesses is because they value the contributions the business makes to their community


• More than half (57 percent) say they know one or more of their local small-business owners personally

Small business is no small statistic when it comes to job creation. In fact, it’s primary to any economy.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, Washington’s small businesses employed over half - or 1.2 million - of the state’s private workforce in 2011. Almost all firms with employees are small. They make up 98 percent of all employers in the state.

Need even more good reasons to choose Main Street?

• Your money stays local. When you shop at a chain store, most of the money goes back to a corporate office, but when you shop on Main Street, most of that money stays on Main Street.


• Your shopping experience is friendlier and more customer oriented. Instead of dealing with temporary workers who don’t know the merchandise, there’s a good chance you’ll be dealing directly with the owner - someone who cares very much about making you a return customer. In fact, according to the NFIB and American Express survey, 77 percent of consumers say Small Business Saturday makes them want to shop small all year long.


• You help small businesses plant lasting roots in your community. Some small-business owners cut their own salaries to keep their full complement of employees. Others have dipped into savings or taken out second mortgages to keep their doors open, or to avoid cutting back employee hours. Shopping local infuses these businesses with cash to keep their doors open.

Of course big box stores stock items that Main Street shops don’t, but you might be surprised at the variety of items that Main Street stores provide.

So how about starting a new shopping tradition this year? Don’t go all out on Black Friday. Spread the holiday cheer by shopping small on Main Street on Small Business Saturday. This new trend will benefit everyone.

Jay Inslee is governor of the state of Washington. Patrick Connor is Washington state director for the National Federation of Independent Business.