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Press Releases
State Patrol Troopers Endorse Sells
The Washington State Patrol Troopers' Association PAC announced on August 3rd the endorsement of Mike Sells for 38th District House, Pos. 2. In doing so, Tommie Pillow, President of the Washington State Troopers' Association noted,"The decision was unanimous. Your commitment to service to the State of Washington with honor and integrity are principles that our members demand. Your understanding of public safety matters and your position on issues critical to every Trooper's professional and personal like make you the clear choice."
Snohomish County Lawmakers Win High Industrial Marks for 2006 Session
OLYMPIA - A key pair of business organizations recently saluted state Reps. John McCoy and Mike Sells for the two lawmakers' business and economic development work in the 2006 Legislature.
With their annual list of "JobMakers," the Association of Washington Business (AWB) and the Washington Roundtable awarded a thumbs-up to McCoy, D-Tulalip, and Sells, D-Everett.
The influential business groups cited the work of McCoy, Sells and other JobMakers in improving the state's business climate, strengthening infrastructure, cutting business costs, and bolstering work-force development and other parts of Washington's education system.
"It's great to see that the AWB recognizes the strength of our economic development work in this year's legislative session," McCoy said.
"The Association and the Roundtable and I don't always see eye-to-eye on every single issue that comes down the road," said McCoy. "But one thing we can always agree on is the importance of creating reliable, good-paying jobs so Washington citizens and businesses can support their families and our communities."
"Working for policies that help produce family-wage jobs was one of the main reasons I ran for public office," Sells said.
"I appreciate the fact that the AWB and the Roundtable recognize the effort we made in the 2006 Legislature to create family-wage jobs," Sells added. "It's good to see them join with labor groups in supporting solid economic development in legislative policies."
The 2006 Legislature approved tax incentives for selected industries, as well as policies for infrastructure development, specific assistance for small businesses, measures promoting work-force development, and reforms in the state's regulatory process.
Tax incentives include help for aluminum companies, nonmanufacturing firms in the aerospace industry, biotech and medical-device businesses, and semiconductor manufacturers.
Infrastructure policies include a boost for economic-development clusters, and assistance for local governments in strengthening their infrastructure.
Small-business assistance includes creation of a partnership program for small companies that want to provide health care for their employees, a break for businesses in meeting their B&O tax deadlines, help for manufacturers, a personal property-tax exemption for small businesspeople, pop-tax relief, and a B&O tax break for membership in professional-employer organizations.
Work-force development directions taken in the 2006 Legislature include a boost for vocational training and public-works apprenticeships.
Reforms in the regulatory process include help for businesses in meeting inspection and industrial-insurance rules, assistance for employers and employees in resolving wage disputes, and balance in the unemployment-insurance system.
The Association of Washington Business, according to its Web site, is the state's oldest and biggest business association. Formed in 1904, the AWB boasts 5,700 members who employ more than 600,000 workers.
The Washington Roundtable, according to its Web site, is a nonprofit, public policy organization made up of 40 chief executives from major private-sector companies around the state. Formed almost 25 years ago, the Roundtable focuses on state fiscal policy, economic climate and public education.