Washington Business Spring 2018 | Washington Business | Page 16

from the chair
Good Policies Aren’t Partisan
Michael Senske
The Legislature has realized good, bipartisan victories over
the past few years, including a four-year balanced budget
requirement that’s helping lawmakers better plan for
tomorrow’s expenses as they approve today’s. They also
made record investments in K-12 education — $4.5 billion
since 2013 and more than an additional $7 billion by 2021 —
and balanced budgets without general tax increases.

Those all add to the health of the economy, building the
workforce of tomorrow and creating tax certainty to spur
investments in job creation.
While some of the successful compromises can be attributed
to the balance of power — the House headed up by a Demo-
cratic majority and the Senate led by a bipartisan coalition of
Republicans and one Democrat — many are due to groups like
AWB that see beyond political party to find solutions that cre-
ate economic opportunity for all Washingtonians.
Last fall’s special election win by Democratic Sen. Manka
Dhingra meant the 2018 legislative session faced a House, Sen-
ate and governor’s office held by one party.
That fact, however notable, doesn’t change AWB’s mission
and vision to serve in the role of a convener and a unifying
voice regardless of which party is in power in Olympia, or Con-
gress for that matter.
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One great example is the Rural Jobs Summit in October.
Among the more than 200 attendees were 23 legislators
from both chambers and both parties — some from metro-
politan districts and others from the far reaches of northeast
Washington. They realize, as AWB members do, that creating
economic prosperity in all of Washington’s 39 counties isn’t
tied to one party’s actions, but rather the collective action of
the Legislature to do better for all of Washing-
ton’s residents — urban, rural and everything in
between.
The economic disparity between rural and
urban areas is not a partisan issue; it’s a human
issue that begs the question: how do we expand
economic opportunity to improve the lives of
families and shore up the local tax base to fund
schools, services that help the most vulnerable
and keep up with critical infrastructure needs?
And, no one group or party has the corner
on good ideas that produce a rising tide to lift
all boats.
I’m pleased to say that the shift in power
in the Legislature isn’t what’s important. What
matters is that we set a table that welcomes all
voices — employers, employees, the vulnerable
and residents in both urban and rural regions
that face different challenges — and find com-
mon ground on solutions.
This is the essence of AWB’s rebranding effort
that was finalized last year. This attitude and practice of col-
laboration can be seen not only in the Rural Jobs Summit, but
the new statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave Act passed
last year, the 2015 transportation funding and reform pack-
age and on efforts that make Washington state a low-carbon
leader in the nation and world.
The bipartisan work represents how diverse opinions and
divergent views can be brought together through working in
good faith. As your board chair, I take pride in knowing that
our focus is on positive results for families, not scoring politi-
cal points.
As always, AWB will steadfastly advocate for employers
and their employees, for tax and regulatory certainty and for
an economy that works for every family in every small town
and city across the state — no matter which party holds the
levers of government.