Both of these tax incentives have helped all types and sizes of technology companies thrive in Washington. They allow companies to hire the best and brightest and pursue innovation that makes Washington a leader in technology.

WTIA Position

No action should be taken to reduce or limit the application or amount of tax credits under these programs. No additional reporting requirements should be added. Both of these tax credits should be made permanent (both expire January 1, 2015).

In today's competitive, global economy, driven by knowledge, information, and technology, the need for higher education is undeniable. Today's business owners and workers of all kinds in every sector need advanced training and education to succeed, both economically and as informed citizens. Attaining higher education can benefit both individuals and society through higher incomes, healthier living, and reduced reliance on government services.

The technology industry is driven by those holding science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees. Technology businesses in Washington must seek these types of degree holders from other states and nations to fill industry needs. Washington's universities simply do not produce enough bachelor's or master's degree holders in STEM degrees. In addition, more students, and those entering the workforce, need business skills that require problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership abilities. Advanced degrees, particularly PhDs in STEM fields are also needed by the technology industry to research and develop innovative new technology-based goods and services.

WTIA Position

While progress has been made on increasing the capacity to grant bachelor's degrees at four-year institutions, we still have work to do. The legislature needs to fund, at cost, additional STEM degrees, both bachelor's and master's, above the current levels in the 2007-09 operating budget. WTIA agrees with the Higher Education Coordinating Board's recommendations for degree production as found in their 2008 report "Moving the Blue Arrow", which calls for a bachelor's degree target of 42,400 per year and advanced degree target of 19,800 by 2018.

Since higher education is a de facto necessity today, the K-12 system must be geared primarily toward preparing students to succeed in college or some type of additional training, such as an apprenticeship in a skilled trade. The keys to an excellent K-12 system are: high standards, curriculum that matches those standards, and testing and assessments that map to the standards and curriculum.

Teachers must be well prepared, both in pedagogy and in the effective use of technology as a teaching tool in their specific subject area. If certain subjects, such as math and science, lack qualified teachers, incentives, including differential pay or bonuses, should be offered to help fill the gap. Ineffective teachers must be weaned out of the K-12 system. Increased teacher pay must be tied to student performance. Class sizes ought to be reduced in lower grades where it has shown to help increase student performance.

WTIA Position

While additional financial resources need to be infused into the K-12 system, they must come with additional accountability for their use. WTIA supports the efforts of the State Board of Education to adopt a third year of math as a high school graduation requirement as a step towards requiring four years of math. WTIA also supports Algebra II as that third year requirement.

WTIA opposes any legislation, either policy or budget, to reduce, modify, or end testing or assessment in any subject, unless and until a proven system of testing is found to replace the reading and writing WASL and the end-of-course math tests.

WTIA supports legislation to recruit more qualified math and science teachers and the use of financial incentives to do so, if necessary.

AHPs have been very successful in providing comprehensive and affordable health coverage for small businesses and their employees. Many, if not most, WTIA members that opt for coverage through WTIA have never offered insurance before.

WTIA Position

WTIA opposes any legislation or policy that would undermine or fundamentally change how AHPs are designed and marketed and provide benefits to both small businesses and trade associations. WTIA does not oppose efforts by state government or other entities to use alternative mechanisms to provide health insurance to small businesses and their employees, as long as these mechanisms provide more choice and competition to the health insurance market. However, if these mechanisms are designed to unfairly compete with AHPs, WTIA will oppose such efforts.

WTIA supports legislation or policy that would allow for health insurance policies to be sold that do not include every mandate currently required under state law to attract those who do not currently participate in the health insurance market due to cost considerations.

WTIA opposes any law or policy that would force individuals or employers to buy health insurance.