Holmquist receives 'Legislative Business Star' award

June 2, 2009

OLYMPIA…Sen. Janéa Holmquist received the 2009 “Legislative Business Star” award today from the Business Institute of Washington, a group of employers, employees and other business community activists dedicated to promoting a legislative agenda that creates a vibrant economy and preserves private-sector jobs.

Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, serves as the lead Republican on the Senate Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. This session she focused on defeating bills that threatened jobs and passing bills that will create or preserve jobs.

“Given the recession, increasing unemployment, and number of struggling employers, I have made preserving and creating new jobs my top priority in Olympia,” said Holmquist. “I am extremely grateful and proud to receive this award in recognition of that effort.”  

Following each legislative session the Business Institute recognizes a legislator from each legislative caucus for his or her leadership on issues concerning the private sector.

Holmquist was selected for her effort to lead a bi-partisan delegation to stop several key pieces of job-killing legislation.  She was able to stop or change some of the most harmful, anti-employer bills before session ended.  This session Holmquist:

• Protected employers and workers from higher taxes and a $56 million raid on the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which is paid by employers to provide benefits to unemployed workers.

• Led a bipartisan effort to stop a bill requiring collective bargaining for child care centers.

• Protected the free-speech rights of employers to communicate about business matters with employees.

• Helped organize opposition to a ‘job killer’ bill that would have increased the costs of home ownership by attempting to cripple the homebuilding industry – an industry needed to help Washington emerge out of the recession.

• Led the effort to defeat a task force recommendation to charge a payroll tax to pay for an ill-conceived and unfunded paid family leave program.

• Worked with her colleagues to stop the “retro-bution” bill in the House of Representatives after it passed the Senate by a single vote.  Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6035 would have restricted the use of private money by private groups in the successful state workers’ comp retro program. This measure was considered by many to be “payback” for the political views of such organizations as the Building Industry Association of Washington, Washington Farm Bureau, and the Washington Restaurant Association.

• Opposed a series of tax proposals including a hike in the state sales tax, increases in the state business and occupation tax, and even the creation of a state income tax – all of which failed to pass the Legislature.

Holmquist was also able to champion a number of laws that improved the state’s business climate, including an unemployment-insurance conformity bill to address overpayments made by businesses into the fund, and an extension of the public utility tax exemption for electrolytic processors, which will help maintain quality jobs in the Columbia Basin and Southwest Washington regions. She also co-sponsored Senate Bill 5042, a measure to protect jobs and help small businesses by recognizing most paperwork errors made by companies filling out forms for the first time as simply mistakes not deserving of fines and penalties from state agencies. 

Formed in 2006, the Business Institute is designed to encourage participation by employees and business in the government process through the delivery of good, non-partisan information from a business perspective.

The 2009 Business Stars were selected for their work in support of a strong private sector during this year’s legislative session, with their keen recognition that a healthy business community creates jobs and fuels Washington’s economy. Legislators were evaluated on their ability to support and champion good, pro-business legislation that will ultimately benefit the economy, particularly in these difficult economic times.

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For more information contact Booker Stallworth
at (360) 786-7536 or stallworth.booker@leg.wa.gov.