Some Choice in Workers' Comp
On Saturday, the state Senate passed ESB 5566, which makes reforms to the workers’ compensation system. Among other changes, the bill would allow injured workers to choose a voluntary settlement agreement instead of taking a permanent pension. Such permanent pensions are a drain on the system. As part of the governor’s workers’ compensation reform proposals […]
March 04 , 2011 - Emily Makings
Understating Public Pension Shortfalls
The Washington Post reports that while official figures put state and local public pension shortfalls at $344 billion, some economists estimate the underfunding is more in the ballpark of $1.9 trillion. The discrepancy occurs because of what the article calls the "government method of accounting." Most states, including Washington, use the actuarial method of accounting in […]
March 03 , 2011 - Emily Makings
New Ways to Get Our Research
The Washington Research Council is now on Facebook and Twitter. Please follow us for all the latest!
March 03 , 2011 - Emily Makings
"The young versus the old"
As I noted yesterday, Bill Gates gave a talk at the TED conference on state budgets. Video of the talk is not yet available, but the Wall Street Journal has reported on it, here and here. Mr. Gates said states are stuck in a system that pays out vast amounts for early retirement, health care […]
March 02 , 2011 - Emily Makings
Gates on State Budgets
Today Bill Gates is speaking at the yearly TED (technology, education, design) conference. In a blog post, he says that his talk will be about state budgets: This time, I wanted to share some of what I’ve been learning about state budgets. I got interested in them because states supply most of the money for […]
March 01 , 2011 - Emily Makings
Too Many Cooks
The fifth paper in the Thrive Washington series was released yesterday. Consolidation versus Specialization looks at ways to restructure the executive branch. It makes these recommendations: Reduce the number of statewide elected officials from nine to six. (Specifically, have the governor appoint the state insurance commissioner and the lands commissioner and eliminate the elected office […]
February 28 , 2011 - Emily Makings
Medicaid: A Budgetary Problem for Many States
An article in the Wall Street Journal today, “Governors Scramble To Rein in Medicaid,” talks about the concerns both Republican and Democratic governors (including our own) have regarding rising Medicaid costs–especially given widespread budget problems: About eight million Americans joined the Medicaid rolls between 2007 and 2010, many because they lost jobs. The federal government […]
February 28 , 2011 - Emily Makings
The Art of Budget Cutting
We're already at the end of February, which means the legislature has only four months to close out the 2009-11 budget. There's a lot of work ahead, but let's start the week with the funnies.
February 25 , 2011 - Emily Makings
Supplementing Some More
A week ago, Gov. Gregoire signed the fourth 2009-11 supplemental budget into law. Our policy brief on what’s included is available here. Taking into account the governor’s vetoes, the supplemental reduces the remaining NGFS shortfall by $361 million. Unfortunately, four rounds and cumulative spending cuts totaling $1.1 billion later, the 2009-11 budget is still not […]
February 17 , 2011 - Emily Makings
More Details on the 2011 Supplemental
More detailed numbers are now available on the 2011 supplemental agreement between the House and Senate. The conference report would reduce NGFS expenditures by $242.2 million and make fund transfers in the amount of $125.2 million, to reduce the 2009-11 shortfall by a total of $367.4 million. (The House bill would close the shortfall by […]