Feb. 18, 2009

Dear employers and supporters of business:

Although there are several proposals here in Olympia aimed at "stimulating the economy," my focus is on helping our businesses that provide not just tax income, but jobs, product and value to our state. We all know it is easier to maintain jobs than it is to create jobs, and my aim during these times of economic hardship is to restore our state's economic vitality.

I have co-sponsored several proposals to protect our economic security and keep people working.

• House Bill 2043 would require all state agencies to respond to permit applications within 90 days or the permit is automatically approved.
• House Bill 1617 would reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses.
• House Bill 1421 would look into merging ports in the Puget Sound to be more efficient and better compete with other countries. Read this column I wrote with Reps. Glenn Anderson and Deb Eddy in the Puget Sound Business Journal.
• House Bill 1603 would end the escalating minimum wage that has caused our state to have the highest minimum wage in the country.
• House Bill 2210 would require an economic impact analysis for every draft permit that is intended to directly cover small businesses.

In addition, I've introduced or co-sponsored several bills that would improve the sustainability of agriculture:

• House Bills 1266, 1267, 1268, 1269 and 1509 all deal with water rights, relinquishment and stock watering. Agriculturalists need water to be successful as much as they need land, machinery and labor. We need to act on this issue now to position our agriculture industry for success. Read this column I wrote with Rep. Judy Warnick in the Capital Press newspaper.
• House Bill 1896 would give employers who have a need for seasonal or temporary workers access to a stable, legal workforce. This bill isn't intended to solve immigration problems. It is intended to help with labor shortages and fears of getting in legal trouble for hiring an illegal employee.
• House Bill 1428 would create the "field of dreams" program which would provide college tuition through Guaranteed Education Tuition credits for high school students working in agriculture. It's a tuition relief bill and provides students an opportunity invest in their own future while being exposed to science, technology and sound business principles.
• House Bill 2032 would create a community agricultural worker safety grant program, to help the agricultural industry develop current employees for professional advancement.

I am seriously concerned about a proposal to levy a payroll tax to fund the paid family leave program. House Bill 1609 would not only require on a tax on employees to pay for parents staying home with new children, it would expand the program to include employees who stay home with ill or injured family members. Reducing employees' paychecks, even modestly, does not contribute to economic growth. I don't think that when families are worried about losing their jobs we should be demanding they pay for other people to stay home from work.

With our state looking at a $6 billion budget deficit or more, this is an opportunity for us to change how our state operates. The solution begins with allowing businesses to invest in their future and maintain jobs.

Please feel free to contact me about these or any other issue that is important to you. My contact information is at the top.

Rep. Bruce Chandler
15th District State Representative

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