Richard S. Davis

Class size Initiative 1351 hides costs, consequences

My column today compares and contrasts Tim Eyman’s Initiative 1325 with the Washington Education Association’s Initiative 1351. The former failed to qualify for the November ballot; the latter apparently did. Eyman’s sales tax reduction would have cost the state about $2 billion over the two-year budget cycle without specifying what programs and services would be […]

State Supreme Court should take a McCleary timeout, let legislators fund basic ed in 2015

Here’s my column on the “show cause” order.

State Supreme Court orders lawmakers to explain why they should not be held in contempt on school funding

The Court’s has long signaled its impatience with the legislature’s slow progress toward meeting the McCleary obligation to fund basic education. Wait until next year wasn’t going to work again. Yesterday’s action – an order to appear at a show cause hearing – steps up the pressure. The state’s response to the order is to be […]

Thumbtack gives Washington a C grade for "small business friendliness" – low marks for regulation

Another business climate ranking came out recently. This one comes from Thumbtack.com, with support from the Kauffman Foundation.  Washington doesn’t do so well. Unsurprisingly, the regulatory environment pulled the overall score down considerably. Some of the key findings for Washington include: Washington earned one of the worst grades in the country for its regulations – […]

Seattle may yet vote on $15 minimum wage; San Francisco will vote on one in November

The Puget Sound Business Journal explains how Seattle voters may still see a minimum wage issue on the November ballot. As we wrote yesterday, some business leaders felt pressured by the possibility of a $15 charter amendment. While there cannot be a charter amendment in even-numbered year, an initiative is still possible. San Francisco voters […]

After getting Seattle to take the $15 leap, minimum wage activists seek second lemming

Fresh from their victory with the Seattle City Council, backers of a $15 minimum wage want to take the campaign to other cities. Homecare workers are also angling for a $15 minimum. In my column today, I urge caution. No need for any one to rush to be the second lemming. There’s a natural experiment […]

Business and labor react to proposed federal climate change regs: lost jobs, higher costs, more uncertainty

Yesterday’s announcement of new climate change regulations guarantees another marathon debate over the costs and benefits of dramatically reducing our reliance on coal. Unsurprisingly, as the New York Times reports, our state’s governor is on board. Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington, a liberal who, like Mr. Obama, hopes to make climate policy a signature of […]

Seattle adopts a $15 minimum wage. Now what?

As expected, the Seattle City Council yesterday unanimously adopted a $15 minimum wage, hewing close to Mayor Ed Murray’s proposal. They did this, as the Seattle Times reports, without knowing what the consequences will be. “No city or state has gone this far. We go into uncharted territory,” said Seattle City Council member Sally Clark […]

Seattle's minimum wage law should recognize franchises are small businesses

The Seattle Times offers some good editorial counsel to the Seattle City Council. Noting that the $15 minimum wage ordinance treats franchises as big business, the Time points out that the decision makes little no sense. [There are] 1,700-some independent franchisees operating in the City of Seattle. In addition to fast-food franchises, these are businesses offering […]

Looking ahead: Minimum wage, fish consumption, data centers, and cap & trade.

The week ends with a few stories reflecting some changes ahead: Minimum Wage Puget Sound Business Journal asks, $15 minimum wage: What will Seattle restaurants with Eastside locations do? Some of the answers aren’t good. A Crosscut article, Seattle on verge of ‘historic’ action on minimum wage, closes with a curious quote from Seattle councilmember Sally Clark, who […]