http://www.nfib.com/Keep up with the latest news, politics and events for small business in the state of Washington.en-usEM3 iOnwebmaster@nfib.orghttp://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36898.htmlJoin fellow small business owners for a legislative update with NFIB/Washington State Director Troy Nichols May 20 in Mt. Vernon.Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36901.htmlJoin fellow small business owners for a legislative update with NFIB/Washington State Director Troy Nichols May 20 in Bellevue.Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36902.htmlJoin fellow small business owners for a legislative update with NFIB/Washington State Director Troy Nichols May 22 in Tacoma.Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36905.htmlJoin fellow small business owners for a legislative update with NFIB/Washington State Director Troy Nichols May 22 in Shelton.Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36907.htmlJoin fellow small business owners for a legislative update with NFIB/Washington State Director Troy Nichols May 8 in Wenatchee.Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36908.htmlJoin fellow small business owners for a legislative update with NFIB/Washington State Director Troy Nichols May 8 in Wenatchee.Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36868.htmlGearing up for one of the most critical election cycles for small business in decades, the National Federation of Independent Business has endorsed Dino Rossi for governor.Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36689.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on 2008 Member Ballot results and activism in Washington, April/May 2008 edition.Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36713.htmlThe 2008 Washington Legislature will be remembered more for what it didn't do than for anything it did. While legislators filed a near record amount of bills for a "short" session, a large number of key issues were left until after the November elections.Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36528.htmlThe cost and availability of healthcare has been a small business owner's No. 1 concern for more than 20 years, according to studies conducted by the NFIB Research Foundation. One of the ideas favored by some is for states to step in and run the system from money it assesses everybody. Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36529.htmlHouse Bill 3305 and Senate Bill 6280 would implement some of the recommendations of the Paid Family Leave Insurance Task Force, including directing the Employment Security Department (ESD) to administer the new benefit and implement several administrative efficiencies to reduce overhead costs of the new benefit. The Department would also set up a state advisory committee on family leave insurance. These two bills, however, are most notable for what they do not include.Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36530.htmlCurrently, when there is a decision to end time/loss benefits and the employee appeals, the worker is not paid any additional time/loss benefits while the appeal is pending. However, in some cases, the Department of Labor and Industries can continue to pay "conditional" time-loss benefits while an appeal is pending, and if the worker losses the appeal, the worker is supposed to pay back the "conditional" time-loss benefits they received.Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36531.htmlHouse Bill 3160 and Senate Bill 6659 would adopt a statewide labeling and nutrition disclosure standard for restaurant chains located in Washington state if they have more than 25 locations throughout the United States. These bills would preempt local boards of health or health districts from adopting their own rules regarding menu labeling and nutritional information disclosure requirements.Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36532.htmlHouse Bill 2797 and Senate Bill 6580 would add climate change to the Growth Management Act as a 14th goal for land-use planning in Washington state. It would require local governments to quantify the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions from proposed development and mitigate or reduce them through land-use planning.Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36533.htmlHouse Bill 2421 and Senate Bill 6622 would prohibit from employees from engaging in any workplace bullying, which is defined as conduct with malice that a reasonable person would find hostile, offensive, and unrelated to an employer's legitimate business interests. An employer can be sued by any employee who believes the employer has failed to control and alleviate workplace bullying.Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36546.htmlAmerica's leading small business association has named Spokane Valley Councilwoman Diana Wilhite its Washington Small Business Champion of the Year.Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36519.htmlA recent guest editorial painted a rosy, though incomplete picture of the state's new Health Insurance Partnership (HIP).</br></br><br>HIP was sold to lawmakers last year with the promise of bringing innovation, choice and portability to the small business health insurance market.Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36385.htmlThe NFIB/Washington Annual Member Retreat is shaping up to be a spectacular event! More details to come.Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36002.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on taxes, workers' compensation and activism in Washington, February/March 2008.Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35933.htmlA state-run health care program is a set up that defines a set of benefits and contracts with insurance companies to provide the insurance. It is paid for by a tax assessed on each employee under age 65 between 2 and 4 percent of their social security wages; self-employed individuals under age 65 will be assessed between 9 and 10 percent of their social security wages; and employers will be assessed between 9 and 12 percent of aggregate social security wages. This is patterned after a proposal in Wisconsin that has not yet passed, so there is no experience with this type of health care system. You are encouraged to contact your legislators in opposition to SB 6221. SB 6221 has had a public hearing and is awaiting a vote as to whether it will proceed forward.Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35886.htmlResults from a five-question poll of Washington state members of the National Federation of Independent Business released today shows near unanimous opposition to legislative proposals to have them foot the bill for the medically uninsured.Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35713.htmlThe new year has just begun, but the 2008 elections have been on the minds of voters for a while now. Over the next several months you'll continue to hear predictions and statistics relating to the presidential and congressional races, and NFIB is here to keep you informed and help you make sense of it all. Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35573.htmlThere is more than just the holiday season upon us. For Washington members of America's leading small-business advocacy group, the National Federation of Independent Business, it also is the voting season, as ballots on the issues that matter to them most fan out this week.Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35549.htmlOn Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, NFIB/Washington State Director Troy Nichols and several NFIB members met with U.S. Congressman Dave Reichert at his district office. Among several topics discussed, health care and taxes took center stage. Enclosed is an exclusive article that the congressman wrote for our members.Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35550.htmlNFIB is the voice of small business, because it truly is a member-driven organization in deed and not just in words. This fact gives it not only a sort of uniqueness among national groups, but also is the reason NFIB ranks as one of the most effective representative associations in America. Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35469.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on activism and looking ahead to 2008 in Washington, December/January 2008.Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35302.htmlSmall business owners value their employees and understand that we all have family obligations. Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35192.htmlThe U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy has compiled the 2007 Small Business Profile for Washington.Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35127.htmlDespite ill-informed rhetoric that often cites the federal death tax as only affecting wealthy people, this tax affects all Americans, and it strikes no one harder than the small-business community.Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_34944.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on small-business issues such as taxes, activism and staff additions in Washington, October/November 2007.Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST