Hello Readers,

As the 2009 legislative session approaches, WTIA needs your feedback on some key public policy issues that the state will be facing when the state legislature convenes January 12.  With a very large budget gap looming, dificult choices will have to be made and all areas of state government are looking at less money than expected.

The WTIA has long been a proponent of improving K-12 and higher education and progress has been made the last several years in increasing degree granting capacity in the state's colleges and universities, especially in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) degrees and other high demand fields.  We have also seen the State Board of Education adopt a third year of math as a high school graduation requirement and they have now proposed increasing the number of credits to 24 that a student must have to graduate, which matches the requirements for getting into a state university.  WTIA supports this but will require additional K-12 funding.

We also expect attacks on tax incentives for R&D (see earlier post on this topic) to help balance the state budget.  We will oppose any efforts to eliminate or scale back incentives to performing R&D in Washington.

However, with a budget deficit of somewhere between $5 and $6 billion, increased taxes will be on the table.

The question of health care "reform" will also be a widely discussed topic in next year's legislative session.  WTIA, like many other associations, offers a health care plan to our members.  These "Association Health Plans" or AHPs have served small businesses well in our state and have seen substantial enrollment growth over the last 3 years.  Unions and others have attempted to make offering AHPs more difficult and we have stopped them from doing so but they will be back in 2009. 

Both surveys are short and will only take a few minutes of your time.  They are designed to be filled out by your company's decision makers or the person most familiar with your company's health insurance plan.  Your feedback is essential to helping WTIA advocate on your behalf.  The links are below.  Thank you for your time and effort.

http://wtia.informz.net/survistapro/s.asp?id=643  Legislative Issues

http://wtia.informz.net/survistapro/s.asp?id=642  Health care/health insurance