Blog

Investment slows when tax policies are uncertain

The National Association of Manufacturers recently conducted a survey of businesses. Here’s the short form. The release today of NAM/IndustryWeek Survey of Manufacturers confirms what manufacturers have long known, the expiration of the on-again and off-again investment tax incentives have companies holding off on making key purchases and thus delays the robust economic growth we […]

Victory for teachers' union – defeat for local schools

One of the more critical things left undone in the waning hours of the legislative session was the failure to make necessary changes in the state’s teacher evaluation program. TNT reporter Melissa Santos explains. Washington lawmakers adjourned Thursday without changing the state’s teacher evaluation system, which probably means Washington will lose its waiver from the […]

Headline writers give lawmakers an incomplete

Detect a pattern? Washington legislature adjourns; punts on big issues Legislative session ends without tackling some major issues State budget OK’d by Legislature, but much left undone Lawmakers pass budget, little else, as session ends

At almost the last moment, a 2014 supplemental operating budget agreement

The House and the Senate came to an agreement on a 2014 supplemental operating budget today, the last day of the legislative session. It would increase 2013-15 appropriations by $149.9 million. It does not include the most controversial items that had been passed by either the House or the Senate: There are no teacher cost-of-living […]

February 11 – March 10 state revenue collections were $13.2 million above forecast

The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council issued its monthly Economic and Revenue Update today. Here are the key bullets on revenue from the summary: Major General Fund-State revenue collections for the February 11 – March 10, 2014 collection period were $13.2 million (1.3%) higher than the February forecast. Revenue Act collections were $0.7 million (0.1%) […]

New Brief: House- and Senate-Passed 2014 Supplementals are Mostly Similar, but Present Distinct Options

The House and Senate have both passed versions of a 2014 supplemental operating budget. We look at what the budgets include and how they differ in a new policy brief.

Today's column on a swift budget resolution and on-time end to the legislative session

In my column, I speculate that the legislative session will end on time as lawmakers are very close to agreement on the basic contours of the budget. Few legislators want a repeat of last year’s marathon. A special session is unnecessary and unlikely. The side that wants the least typically prevails in these negotiations. By […]

New Brief: House Appropriations Chair's Proposed 2014 Supplemental Largely Tracks Senate Proposal

As Dick noted earlier, yesterday the House released a 2014 supplemental operating budget. We describe the proposal in a new policy brief. (Our brief on the Senate proposal is here.)

House and Senate base budgets are close; that's before you get to House-proposed new taxes and school spending

Yesterday House Democrats proposed their 2014 supplemental budget (documents here). It’s the time of year when things happen quickly; the Appropriations Committee hearing was last night at 6:00 In addition to a base budget, which closely resembles the plan introduced earlier by the Senate Majority Coalition, the House rolled out a proposal to increase taxes […]

New Brief: Senate Ways and Means Chair's Proposed 2014 Supplemental Increases Education Spending, Reduces Taxes

Yesterday the Senate Ways and Means Chair proposed a 2014 supplemental operating budget. We take a look at the proposal in a new policy brief.