January 12 , 2017 - Mary Strow
How Washington state ranks on federal aid
The Tax Foundation is out with a new ranking: "Which States Rely the Most on Federal Aid?" Washington state is #33, with 29.2 percent of its Fiscal Year 2014 state general revenue coming from the federal government. The Foundation notes: In fiscal year 2014, over 60 percent of federal spending in the states went to […]
January 09 , 2017 - Mary Strow
2017 Legislative Session Starts Today
The state Legislature begins its 2017 session today. This being an odd-numbered year, session is scheduled to last 105 days, with an April 23 adjournment date. Almost nobody believes lawmakers will finish their business by then, however, in which case the governor can call a special session (or a series of special sessions as the […]
January 05 , 2017 - Mary Strow
New Economic Profile: The Economic Contribution of Washington state's Petroleum Refining Industry in 2015
Today we're publishing a new Economic Profile of Washington's petroleum refining industry, "The Economic Contribution of Washington state's Petroleum Refining Industry in 2015." In brief: Washington's five refineries provide 3.4 percent of the United States' refining capacity. In 2015, the refiners directly provided 2,097 full-time jobs, paying an annual average wage of $126,960. In addition, […]
January 05 , 2017 - Mary Strow
Lawmakers on K-12 funding panel issue competing recommendations
In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, every year on Feb. 2 residents await the sign of a groundhog – Punxsutawney Phil – to forecast the onset of spring. In the Washington state Legislature, lawmakers and other observers were awaiting a sign yesterday of how much members of the Joint Education Task Force could agree on solutions for full state […]
December 30 , 2016 - Mary Strow
December 19 , 2016 - Mary Strow
December 15 , 2016 - Mary Strow
December 13 , 2016 - Mary Strow
Seattle City Council Rent-Control Runaround
The Seattle City Council continues its streak of government-intrusive policies, on Monday unanimously passing restrictions on how much landlords can charge tenants for move-in costs. You can read all about it in The Seattle Times: It’s not rent control, which state law prohibits Seattle from enacting. But City Councilmember Kshama Sawant thinks this ordinance is the […]
December 05 , 2016 - Mary Strow