NFIB

Putting you directly in touch with the decision makers who directly affect your business

Throughout the month of May, NFIB/Washington held 10 member meetings all across Washington. Thirty-five state lawmakers participated in these events in Spokane, Walla Walla, Kennewick, Wenatchee, Mt. Vernon, Bellevue, Longview, Vancouver, Shelton and Tacoma. Legislators were able to meet with small business owners directly to talk about the 2008 session and the challenges we all face in 2009.

Sen. Val Stevens (right), Arlington, and Betty Neighbors with Terra Services Group at the Mt. Vernon member meeting May 20, 2008.

Rep. Dan Kristiansen, Snohomish, and Jerry Murphy with Greenshields Industrial Supply at the member meeting in Mt. Vernon May 20, 2008.

Patti Tupper, Tupper's Floor Covering; Russ Denney, Pantorium Cleaners; and Sen. Tim Sheldon, Potlach, at the Shelton member meeting May 22, 2008.

In addition, NFIB/Washington was able to bring key state agency personnel from the Dept. of Labor and Industries and the Dept. of Revenue to the table to discuss important issues that will affect small businesses this year. Members heard about the newly-proposed heat-stress rules, the latest workers' comp dividend, new mandatory leave laws, and the fast-approaching implementation date for the new destination-based sales and use tax law. NFIB members were also able to ask specific questions about the challenges facing their own small business.

"This was an important series of meetings for NFIB and I want to personally thank every NFIB member who took the time out of their busy schedule to attend," said NFIB/Washington State Director Troy Nichols. "It increases our credibility ten-fold in Olympia when we can share real-life stories directly from small business owners. It's also very important that lawmakers from both parties hear first hand the challenges facing our small businesses in this state."

NFIB/Washington would like to thank Ron Langley, Small Business Liaison for the Dept. of L&I, and Rick Stedman with the communications office in the Dept. of Revenue for helping arrange for agency staff to attend all of our events. We would also like to thank all of the staff from L&I and the Dept. of Revenue who participated in these meetings. Finally, we would like to thank the following legislators for participating:

• Senator Val Stevens (R-Arlington) 
• Representative Lynn Schindler (R-Spokane)
• Senator Tim Sheldon (D-Potlatch) 
• Representative Larry Seaquist (D-Gig Harbor)
• Senator Rosemary McAuliffe (D-Bothell) 
• Representative Larry Haler (R-Richland)
• Senator Rosa Franklin (D-Tacoma) 
• Representative Joyce McDonald (R-Puyallup)
• Senator Mary Margaret Haugen (D-Camano Island) 
• Representative John Ahern (R-Spokane)
• Senator Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) 
• Representative Joe Schmick (R-Colfax)
• Senator Marilyn Rasmussen (D-Eatonville) 
• Representative Jim Dunn (R-Vancouver)
• Senator Linda Evans Parlette (R-Wenatchee) 
• Representative Jay Rodne (R-Snoqualmie)
• Senator Joseph Zarelli (R-Ridgefield) 
• Representative Jaime Herrera (R-Ridgefield)
• Senator Jerome Delvin (R-Richland) 
• Representative Ed Orcutt (R-Kalama)
• Senator Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Harbor) 
• Representative Deb Eddy (D-Kirkland)
• Representative Troy Kelley (D-Tacoma) 
• Representative Dean Takko (D-Longview)
• Representative Timm Ormsby (D-Spokane) 
• Representative Dan Kristiansen (R-Snohomish)
• Representative Skip Priest (R-Federal Way) 
• Representative Cary Condotta (R-Wenatchee)
• Representative Norma Smith (R-Coupeville) 
• Representative Bruce Chandler (R-Granger)
• Representative Mike Armstrong (R-Wenatchee) 
• Representative Bill Hinkle (R-Cle Elum)
• Representative Maureen Walsh (R-Walla Walla) 
• Representative Barbara Bailey (R-Oak Harbor)
• Representative Mark Ericks (D-Bothell) 
• Amy Cruver, Leg. Asst, Rep. Jim McCune