New Brief: Comparing House and Senate Supplemental Budgets
Our policy brief on the House- and Senate-passed 2012 supplemental budgets is available here.
February 24 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: House Ways & Means Chair's Proposed 2012 Supplemental
On Tuesday, Rep. Hunter released his proposed 2012 supplemental budget. Our brief on the proposal is available here.
February 21 , 2012 - Emily Makings
The Alexander Striker
This afternoon, Rep. Alexander has proposed a striking amendment to PSHB 2127, the House Ways and Means Committee Chair’s proposed 2012 supplemental. (I discussed the chair’s proposal in a post earlier today.) Alexander’s striker defines the budget problem as being $1.593 billion (near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways, NGFS+). It is larger than the Chair’s […]
February 21 , 2012 - Emily Makings
House Chair's Proposed Supplemental
Today Rep. Hunter, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, released his proposed 2012 supplemental budget. The budget overview document describes the near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) budget problem as being $1.472 billion (including reserves totalling $504 million). This problem statement takes into account significant maintenance level savings and a positive February […]
February 20 , 2012 - Emily Makings
Washington Union Membership, 2011
In January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its 2011 Union Members Survey, which Dick wrote about here. Briefly, BLS found that union membership was 11.8 percent nationally, with a public-sector union membership rate of 37.0 percent and a private-sector membership rate of 6.9 percent. Using BLS data, Professors Barry Hirsch (Georgia State University) […]
February 03 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Nation's Seventh-Best Business Climate?
Last week, the Tax Foundation released its annual ranking of state business tax climates. Washington–largely thanks to our lack of an income tax–ranks seventh in the nation. In a policy brief, we discuss the ranking and what it means for Washington. This brief builds on a post from Dick last week.
February 03 , 2012 - Emily Makings
80th Annual Dinner
We're pleased to announce that the speakers for our 2012 Annual Dinner will be Jennifer Rubin, of the Right Turn blog at the Washington Post, and Mickey Kaus, of KausFiles at the Daily Caller. Greg Lane, President & CEO of TVW will moderate. The event will be held June 5 at the Museum of Flight. […]
February 01 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: The First 2012 Supplemental Budget
During this legislative session, legislators must close a significant 2011-13 budget shortfall. They started the work during the special session late last year. In a new policy brief today, we look at the 2012 supplemental that was enacted in December. It solved only part of the budget problem.
January 24 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: The Drag of Unfunded Commitments
During the current legislative session, legislators must close a significant remaining 2011-13 budget shortfall. When in a situation like this, it is tempting to suspend programs rather than eliminate them, in the hopes that the economy will improve in the next biennium. Indeed, legislators have deferred spending on various programs, in this biennium and previously. […]
December 30 , 2011 - Emily Makings
The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Workers' Comp Audit
The State Auditor’s Office has released its 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) Summary. Total government expenses declined 7.42 percent from 2010, with the largest reductions coming from workers’ compensation (-71.44 percent) and unemployment insurance (-21.97 percent). Unemployment compensation activity reported operating income of $171 million in fiscal year 2011 versus a loss of $985 […]