Richard S. Davis

Voters delivered a sensible message: What it means for 2015

In my column yesterday I assessed last week’s election, finding parallels between the national and Washington state outcomes. Using national trends to interpret our state elections can be risky. We’re different out here and proud of it. But last week showed some unmistakable signs that the wave sweeping most of the country splashed us as […]

Clarifying the 2015 budget picture

Kriss posted yesterday on the improved revenue picture. As Brad Shannon reports, the higher revenue collections are accompanied by higher caseload and enrollment numbers. State budget director David Schumacher told the Caseload Forecast Council meeting in Olympia that an expected increase in K-12 school enrollments alone may add $380 million to the state’s costs through June 2017, which […]

Supporting biotech and more with growth-oriented tax policy

H. Stewart Parker, a pioneer in Washington’s life sciences industry, writes in today’s Seattle Times that our state risks falling behind in the competition for biotech investment. Washington has a lot going for it business-wise, but we must not underestimate the competition for the life-sciences industry. The Washington state Legislature did not renew our industry tax […]

Next year's legislature must address transportation funding

In my column today, I revisit the Washington Roundtable-Boston Consulting Group report we posted on last week. According to BCG, a $7 billion investment would return $42 billion in value over 30 years. The benefits show up in reduced congestion costs, improved safety, lower vehicle operating costs, expanded port activity, and lower future repair costs. […]

Washington stays at No. 11 on Tax Foundations 2015 State Business Tax Climate Index

The Tax Foundation today releases its 2015 State Business Tax Climate Index, again finding Washington among the best, just out of the top ten at No. 11. From the group's press release for Washington. The breakdown of Washington’s ranking this year is as follows (1st is best, 50th is worst): * Washington’s overall State Business […]

7% return on transportation infrastructure investments; payback in 17 years

At New Geography, Susanne Trimbath reviews the economic benefits of smart transportation investment. Investments that improve the performance of transportation in the US will pay for themselves in 17 years through increased economic activity and the resulting gains in federal tax revenue. The rate of return for national investments in transportation is 7%, significantly more than […]

More on why a statewide transportation funding plan is a 2015 legislative must-do

Yesterday’s release of the Washington Roundtable/Boston Consulting group transportation report could not have been better timed. That report found that a $7 billion infrastructure investment would yield $42 billion in economic benefits. Also yesterday, the Washington State Department of Transportation released its 2014 Corridor Capacity Report. It’s long, wonkish and important. A couple of bullets pulled from […]

$7 billion transportation investment would generate $42 billion economic benefit: Washington Roundtable and Boston Consulting Group

The Washington Roundtable and The Boston Consulting Group today released a new report documenting the economic benefits that would flow from a $7 billion transportation investment. A $7 billion investment to preserve and maintain state road and bridge networks and improve key economic corridors would generate $42 billion in benefits and increase state and local […]

Harvard Business School on "An Economy Doing Half Its Job" and the Need to Improve Education, Workforce Skills and Transportation

My column today used a Harvard Business School competitiveness report as its launching point. It points out a signal danger to our economic future. The report, “An Economy Doing Half Its Job,” is based on a survey of Harvard business graduates and the school’s own academic research. The research team writes that the nation is […]

Davis column: Hard to do priority budgeting if you don't set priorities

My column this week suggests that the presidents of the six four-year colleges should have complied with the governor’s budget office and shown the effects of a 15 percent budget cut.  They prefer to paint with broad brushstrokes as they make a strong case against any further reductions in the higher education budget. I write, […]