Business Connection KELSO LONGVIEW
Vol. 4, No. 4 • April 2012
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
Legislature’s budget impasse, regulations enliven table talk at breakfast briefing
T
he tabletop phone device was temperamental, but that didn’t explain the silence at the other end of the scheduled conference call at KLCC’s latest weekly legislative briefing. Apparently, legislators just didn’t have anything to report from Olympia. Still, Chamber members found plenty to talk about over breakfast. On March 12, seemingly-stymied and at odds with itself, the Washington Legislature opened a special session ordered by Governor Chris Gregoire. Meanwhile, she is “holding bills hostage,” pending settling of the budget impasse, said Lower Columbia College president Chris Bailey.
“We’re still not sure of (funding for) the LCC science building,” he said. Money was to come from an $8 million surplus fund (from building fees accumulated during historically-high community college enrollment), but recent pooling
of State funds has cast uncertainty on the allocation. Bailey said, however, that Sen. Brian Hatfield (D-Raymond) told him, “We’re working on it,” and a Zarelli (Senator, R-Ridgefield) staffer assured him, “It’s handled.” Cautious optimism prevails.
— to balance the budget, create jobs, and reform government.”
“We wouldn’t be in special session today,” said Doug Kalberg, owner of The Dog Zone in Longview, if priorities in Olympia were shifted. “From day one, they need to get the budget passed before any bills can be passed.”
“It would have to be (accomplished through) the initiative process,” said Jim Bobst, of Pacific Fibre Products, Longview. “The legislators would never cut their own throats that way.”
Budget First
“If you put the rule in place, there’s (still) going to be plenty of debate (among proponents of education, labor, business, environmental issues), but nothing will be passed before the budget is passed.” Such a change, said Longview consultant Rick Winsman, “would truly conform to what the goal of the Legislature should be
In the Legislature’s five sessions during the past three years, noted Winsman, “They have yet to balance the budget. We want a system that functions on priorities.” But making a change would be no easy task.
“They will not prescribe that medicine for themselves,” agreed Frank McShane, chief operations manager at Cascade Networks, Longview. “Priorities are screwed up.” Chairman Dale Lemmons said the Chamber’s legislative committee will submit a specific suggestion to Gary Chandler (VP of Govt. Affairs, Assoc. of Washington Business), requesting him to facilitate its circulation through
MARK YOUR CALENDARS April 9 Member2Member Monthly Mailing Deadline April 11 Education Committee Meeting April10 Longview Downtowners General Meeting April 11 Lower Columbia Professionals Committee Meeting April 12 Ambassador Meeting April 17 Business After Hours • Key Bank
Government Affairs MONDAY MORNING BREAKFAST BRIEFINGS
Next meeting: April 2 7am Monticello Hotel LaRiviere Room
PAID
Centralia, WA 98531 Permit #26
Presorted Std U.S. Postage
cont on page 7
Join us for
Kelso Longview Chamber Education Foundation’s 2012 Education & Business Awards
“An Evening with the Stars” Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Cowlitz Regional Conference Center
5:30 pm Social Hour 6:00 pm Dinner $35 per person / $280 table for 8 360-423-8044 ext. 16
1563 Olympia Way • Longview, WA 98632
TUNE IN every WEDNESDAY Your Chamber Connection KEDO AM1400 3– 4pm Contact the Chamber to schedule YOUR 10-minute business spotlight
IN THIS ISSUE Business Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Downtown Longview . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Downtown Kelso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Business Toolbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . 5