Richard S. Davis

Closing skill gap expands opportunity, adds jobs, boosts economy

A new report released by the Boston Consulting Group and the Washington Roundtable identifies the benefits to state residents and employers from closing the “skills gap” – the mismatch between the jobs available and the qualifications of the workers seeking employment. Here are some highlights from the press release. See also the complete Great Jobs Within […]

WA, OR governors urge review of climate change effect of coal ports: A new regulatory hurdle for major projects?

Yesterday, Gov. Jay Inslee and Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber sent a letter to Council of Environmental Quality chair Nancy Sutley, urging the CEQ to consider the long-term environmental consequences of proposed coal export terminals in the two states. Their request is broad. Well, it’s global. We believe the decisions to continue and expand coal leasing […]

Seattle's job growth comes despite the city's business climate

Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat calls Seattle’s recent employment boom an “inconvenient truth” undercutting claims that the city’s “taxes and rules and supposedly socialist groupthink” are bad for business. There’s no denying the growth in metro Seattle, but a good case can be made that it’s occuring despite the city’s  business climate, not because of […]

STEM education increases opportunity, drives economy

The shortage of workers with STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills means that too many jobs go unfilled even as too many Washingtonians need jobs. The mismatch is the them of a good op-ed by AWB president Don Brunell in the the Bellingham Herald. Simply put, employers need people proficient in science, technology, engineering […]

State treasurer argues against shifting state workers to 401k-style pension plan. There's more to it.

In today’s Seattle Times, State Treasurer Jim McInitire makes his case for rejecting proposals to place younger and newly-employed state workers in defined contribution pension plans, similar to the 401k programs common in the private sector. Basically, his argument amounts to a variation on “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” a sentiment I generally […]

There's nothing like a "temporary tax"… the New York edition

Or so it would seem. Literally. As the governor and some legislators in Olympia consider extending temporary tax increases on business and beer, their counterparts in New York tread the same turf. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and legislative leaders are finalizing a surprise deal to extend a high-tax bracket for the state’s top incomes. The […]

Official state revenue forecast comes out at noon today. View with caution.

In my column today I suggest lawmakers take a cautious view of the numbers. The state, national and global economies continue to face substantial risk. A balanced budget is, of course, a priority. But With much risk beyond their control, lawmakers should be cautious in their spending and prudent in maintaining adequate budget reserves. They […]

2013 National Infrastructure Report Card Improves to a D+

The American Society of Civil Engineers released its quadrennial report card on the nation’s infrastructure today. It’s less lousy than it was four years ago. As the New York Times reports: It is the first time in the 15 years that the engineering organization has conducted its study that the grade has improved. The report […]

The Economist magazine looks to the states and finds policy innovation and growing economies.

This issue of The Economist has a look at the American economy. Offsetting the predictable despair over the antics and inaction in D.C. is a positive assessment of American entrepreneurs and the dynamism in the states, what they call the America that works. A couple of excerpts then I encourage you to RTWT. Pressed for […]

State budget beginning to take shape amid uncertainty

  The House GOP released a “fund education first” budget proposal yesterday, adding a net $556 million in K-12 spending as a down payment on McCleary. (We always say “down payment” because the state Supreme Court expects considerably more by 2017. This is the year lawmakers have to show a good faith effort.) Here’s the […]