Mary Strow

Policy Today podcast: How is the Growth Management Act working?

New Special Report: The Growth Management Act at 25 Years

Today we're releasing our Special Report on the Growth Management Act (GMA), Washington's comprehensive land-use law, which was fully enacted 25 years ago. Our report covers the GMA's history and chief components, focuses specifically on how the GMA has worked in two counties, Snohomish and Spokane, and offers recommendations for improving the act. In addition to […]

Congressional deadlock over Export-Import Bank hurts Boeing, other Washington businesses

Last year's drama in Congress over reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank (the bank was eventually reopened in December 2015) continues this year in a different form. U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Alabama and the Senate Banking Committee chairman, is blocking the nomination of a third Ex-Im Bank board member. At least three members must sit on the bank's board […]

Common Ground Podcast: A Bipartisan Approach to Poverty

Policy Today Podcast: Special Report on K-12 Funding & McCleary Ruling

Special-ed advocates chime in on K-12 funding

The Seattle Times reported Friday on a brief filed by special-education advocates in the ongoing McCleary case, which deals with state funding of K-12 public schools. They argue that the state's funding, and funding formula, for Washington's 125,000 special-ed students are inadequate: For 20 years the Legislature has paid for special education as if every […]

Forbes.com contributor: "Washington Lawmakers Grandstanding Against Boeing Could Cripple State's Aerospace Industry"

Writing on Forbes.com yesterday, Travis H. Brown sets his sights on "politicians in Olympia [who] have repeatedly floated the notion of clawing back the aerospace tax incentives." Earlier this year, Representative June Robinson (D-Everett) introduced a bill that put caveats on Boeing’s ability to receive the full benefits of the 2013 tax package. The legislation (House Bill […]

Home bidding wars heat up in Seattle area

The Seattle Times reported Saturday on what many homebuyers, sellers and real-estate professionals in the region have been experiencing over the past year or so: bidding wars in an "ultracompetitive local housing market." In fact, says the Times, "there are now more home-bidding wars than at any point this decade." The Seattle metro area now sees a higher […]

Common Ground podcast: State Rep. Roger Goodman on legislating through collaboration

Watch Morton Kondracke's speech on the 2016 presidential campaign

Last month we were pleased to have renowned political journalist and commentator Morton Kondracke speak at our 84th annual dinner in Bellevue. His topic was "This Perilous Election: How Did We Get Here?" He offered a rather scathing – yet entertaining – critique of all three presidential candidates. A self-proclaimed moderate and biographer of the late […]