Candidates here will have to address Wisconsin recall results, collective bargaining
Both major party candidates in this year’s election have said they don’t expect it to be Wisconsin redux. Collective bargaining for public employee unions and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker didn’t figure at all in yesterday’s debate in Spokane, sponsored by the Association of Washington Business and Greater Spokane, Inc. In my column this morning, I […]
June 08 , 2012 - Richard S. Davis
Wisconsin recall election matters here, though not all agree
Does the Wisconsin recall election matter outside the Gopher State? Until Walker's win by a large margin Tuesday, organized labor thought so. Now, not so much. Fiscal conservatives hoping to rein in public employee compensation, particularly high pension and health insurance costs, thought the election mattered all along. Now, they see it as mattering even […]
June 08 , 2012 - Richard S. Davis
Research Council's 80th Annual Dinner, featuring top political bloggers Mickey Kaus and Jennifer Rubin
Tuesday, June 5, the Washington Research Council celebrated its 80th year. Our annual dinner, at the Museum of Flight, was a lot of fun, with excellent food, an engaged and informed crowd of long-time WRC supporters and new friends, and stimulating punditry. TVW was there to cover it. The generous introductory remarks are from Gary […]
June 05 , 2012 - Richard S. Davis
Celebrating 80 years of the WRC
This evening, the Washington Research Council celebrates its 80th anniversary. The event will feature a lively discussion between Washington Post blogger Jennifer Rubin and the Daily Caller's Mickey Kaus. The discussion will be moderated by TVW president and CEO Greg Lane. Sure to be a topic of conversation: the recall election in Wisconsin. After Gov. […]
May 30 , 2012 - Richard S. Davis
2/3 supermajority for tax increases headed to Supreme Court after King County judge rules it unconstitutional
King County Superior Court Judge Bruce Heller today ruled that the voter-approved supermajority requirement is unconstitutional. The ruling puts the issue back in the hands of the state Supreme Court. Andrew Garber reports the decision in the Seattle Times. Patrick Peter Callaghan provides important background and context, including this. Three previous times the top court […]
May 30 , 2012 - Richard S. Davis
Public charter schools play important role in improving education
Last week, a coalition of education reform groups filed an initiative to allow public charter schools in Washington. The coalition including the League of Education Voters, Stand for Children and Democrats for Education Reform has until July 6 to collect nearly 250,000 valid voter signatures. In my column this morning, I write about the success of […]
May 29 , 2012 - Richard S. Davis
Why Coal Continues to Matter
In his column today, AWB president Don Brunell weighs in on the “war on coal.” Specifically, he looks at the mounting challenges to proposed shipping terminals in the Northwest. Don points out that, although such projects are already subject to a review process including an Environmental Impact Statement, opponents want more. But opponents want to […]
April 23 , 2012 - Richard S. Davis
Rockefeller Institute reports state collections recover nationally, not yet here
The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government reports that two successive years of growth have pushed states’ revenues abover the pre-recession peak. The full study is available here. States’ tax collections grew for the eighth straight quarter at the end of 2011, for the first time topping peak revenue levels seen at the beginning of […]
April 23 , 2012 - Richard S. Davis
Move ahead with Keystone XL
Last week, AWB president Don Brunell called for swift action by Congress on the Keystone XL pipeline. TransCanada, a Canadian pipeline company, hopes to build the 1,400-plus mile Keystone XL down to Cushing, Okla., connecting it there with a second, southern leg. That 480-mile leg would take the diluted heavy bitumen oil from Alberta’s tar sands […]
April 20 , 2012 - Richard S. Davis
Another study finds not having an income tax is good for a state's business climate
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council is out with its annual business tax climate report. (Press release here and pretty cool interactive map here.) According to SBEC, Washington has the 5th best business tax system. SBEC constructs its index using 18 measures: The 18 measures are: 1) state’s top personal income tax rate, 2) state’s top […]