The 2005 Legislative Session will be one of change for Washington state residents and business owners. A new governor and newly elected legislature will bring fresh ideas for reform and renewed risks for the business climate. Despite these changes, the interests of small business owners remain consistent.

Three issues in particular stand out as the priority topics that state policymakers must address if we want to our economy to begin growing again. They are: 1) Addressing the rising cost of health insurance, 2) reducing the cost of liability insurance through tort reform and 3) controlling workers’ compensation rates with reform of the industrial insurance system.

Each of these issues was covered in a recent series of Small Business Forums as part of Washington Policy Center’s Small Business Project, which is co-sponsored by over 60 different organizations including every major chamber of commerce in the state. The six forums were held in Vancouver, Wenatchee, Tri-Cities, Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma between late August and late October and together were attended by over 400 business owners, policymakers and media.

Read the full Policy Note here