Washington, clearly, is open for business.
Forbes.com recently ranked the state as the ninth-best in the country for business, saying Washington is “a cradle for innovation.” The state has given birth in recent decades to companies such as Amazon.com, Starbucks, and Microsoft. And, according to Forbes, venture capitalists poured $2 billion worth of investments into the state between 2010 and 2012, sixth most in the country.
But, as with any successful venture, if you aren’t improving and you aren’t innovating and you aren’t moving ahead, you’re falling behind. So it is with much interest that we consider some ideas put forth by state Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas. Pike, in her first full term representing the 18th Legislative District, recently met with eight Clark County business leaders and shared some legislative proposals she will be supporting.
Among them, as reported by The Columbian’s Stevie Mathieu: A six-month training wage for workers 21 and younger that would be lower than minimum wage; a cap on the amount a business must pay if a worker is injured on the job while under the influence of drugs or alcohol; pension cuts for seasonal employees working nine or fewer months each year for a small city; and prevailing wage exemptions for city projects that cost less than $5 million.
Pike also is in favor of a bill that would create a new oversight process when a state agency, such as the Department of Ecology, creates a rule. If that rule is met with enough resistance from legislators, industry groups or voters, or if it costs a business at least $10 million, it would be subject to review by lawmakers.