editor's blog

Taxpayers Should Cut Up Uncle Sam’s Credit Cards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 8, 2011

Contact: Jocelyn McCabe, APR (360.943.1600 ext. 1019)
Don Brunell (360.943.1600 x1015)
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/awbolympia

Taxpayers Should Cut Up Uncle Sam’s Credit Cards

By Don C. Brunell

President

Association of Washington Business

My dad used to say, “Public officials should never borrow money, except in an emergency, like a war.”

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Lawmakers Should Tread Carefully On State Health Exchange

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2011

Contact: Jocelyn McCabe, APR (360.943.1600 ext. 1019)
Don Brunell (360.943.1600 ext. 1015)

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/awbolympia

Lawmakers Should Tread Carefully On State Health Exchange

By Don C. Brunell,President
Association of Washington Business

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They Said It

"Politicians are addicted to spending and revenue extraction. As with an addict, there's little pause for moral or legal contemplation." - David Malpass, global economist

Winston Churchill quote

"Some regard private enterprise as if it were a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look upon it as a cow they can milk. Only a handful see it for what it really is-- the strong horse that pulls the cart."

Government Takeover of Student Loans

The White House and congressional Democrats have a series of complex legislative maneuvers they've passed regarding an unpopular health care scheme comprised of thousands of pages of legalese.

Please read the following excerpt from Committee on Education and Labor 3/16/2010 Rep. John Kline:

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Boost jobs by making it cheaper to hire

Washington is one of only four states that do not allow private insurers to sell workers comp policies. Here, employers must either self-insure or purchase from the state monopoly, which boosted rates this year an average of 7.6 percent. Unless things change, employers can expect another stiff premium hike next year. An employer coalition proposed legislation to reform the system without reducing worker benefits. The reforms are common across the country, yet inexplicably anathema to union leaders here. The reform bill has yet to get a legislative hearing.

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Shared Work Program an alternative to layoffs

Employers seeking to avoid layoffs may want to consider the Washington State Employment Security Department’s new Shared Work Program. Here’s how it works: Employers can temporarily reduce the work hours of their full-time employees by up to 50 percent, while the workers collect partial unemployment benefits to replace a portion of their lost wages. This allows employees to maintain their income and benefits while employers retain skilled workers. More than 2,000 businesses and nearly 42,000 employees are currently participating in the program.

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