Blog

State Supreme Court will hear public pension gain sharing case

According to the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS), the state Supreme Court will hear the appeal in the gain sharing case. The court may also hear the case regarding public pension automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Gain sharing was established in 1998. Under the program, extraordinary investment returns were used to enhance retirement benefits for certain […]

Oregon Medicaid study calls benefits of expansion into question

A closely watched study of Oregon’s 2008 Medicaid expansion has prompted some scholarly second-thoughts on the benefits of the program. While not all bad news, the results published yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine (link is to free preview) are less than optimal. This randomized, controlled study showed that Medicaid coverage generated no […]

New Brief: Assumptions Gap Divides Legislative Budget Proposals

In a new policy brief, we take a look at the shaky assumptions made in the House and Senate 2013-15 operating budget proposals. Assumptions are made in revenue and spending levels that may not come to pass. We also discuss transfers from the capital budget and ending reserves.

Focus on budget in Washington legislature's special session

As Emily posted earlier, Gov. Inslee has laid out an expanded agenda for the special session. Senate Republicans have called for a budget and jobs agenda. In my column, I encourage lawmakers to keep the focus tight. The governor’s proclamation:

Special session called, but operating budget not the only agenda item

The regular session of the legislature came to a close on Sunday, with no agreement on an operating budget for 2013-15. Gov. Inslee has called for a special session to begin May 13, but he did not limit its focus to the budget. In his press conference, he listed the following as priorities for the […]

Divergence in non-education spending in House and Senate budgets

In the 2013-15 operating budgets, both the House and the Senate increase spending over 2011–13. The Senate increases near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) spending by 6.72 percent, and the House increases NGFS+ spending by 10.44 percent. In the Senate budget, spending on the department of early learning (which includes pre-school and is part […]

Tax bill passes House

Yesterday the House passed the Houses finance committee’s tax bill (ESHB 2038) with one amendment, which concerned section 401. (My previous posts on this bill are here and here.) As it passed the House finance committee, section 401 of the bill eliminated the sales tax exemption for goods (other than motor vehicles, boats and trailer […]

A reminder: Washington leads the nation in liquor taxes

Beer drinkers may have caught a break when the House Finance Committee nixed higher beer taxes, but liquor drinkers get no such love. Here’s the Tax Foundation’s map of liquor excise taxes. Note Washington and Oregon come in #1 and #2. And then note the spread.  

Moving closer to internet sales tax — won't cure state budget woes

The U.S. Senate today took another step toward passing the Marketplace Fairness Act. The Hill reports, In a 75-22 vote, the Senate proceeded to The Marketplace Fairness Act, S. 743, which would empower states to collect taxes on purchases made online by consumers in their states. The latest vote suggests supporters of the bill are […]

House finance committee passes tax increases

Yesterday morning the House finance committee passed a substitute version of committee chair Reuven Carlyle’s tax proposal, which we described in a this policy brief. The substitute bill (SHB 2038) eliminated increases in taxes on beer, insurance agent commissions, stevedoring and janitorial services that would have been imposed in the original bill. The removed tax […]