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Seattle, nation's fastest growing city, and some bumps in the road ahead: business costs, housing affordability, and rising taxes

The Census Bureau reported last week that Seattle was the nation’s fastest growing city. From the Seattle Times story: From July 1, 2012 to July 1, 2013, Seattle grew by 2.8 percent — the highest rate among the 50 most-populous U.S. cities. Seattle added nearly 18,000 residents in the one-year period, bringing its population to about 652,000. The Times notes […]

Grab your budget calculator: Costs rising for Washington's 2015 legislative session

We previously noted the governor’s enthusiasm for public employee pay increases and new revenues. The Olympian has more today. …[Inslee] got a standing ovation when he said it was “unacceptable” workers had gone six years without a general pay raise, according to federation spokesman Tim Welch. Inslee’s spokesmen did not dispute that he called the lack […]

Seattle's $15 minimum wage: Buyer's remorse before the sale

Even as it was being announced and celebrated by some members of his income inequality committee, the political leaders acknowledged the Seattle mayor’s $15 minimum wage proposal would undergo tweaking before it was adopted by the city council. Remember Councilmember Nick Licata’s comments about legislators liking to get their “fingerprints” on such things. There’s been […]

Strassel wins award for journalistic excellence

Kimberley Strassel, the speaker for our annual dinner next week, has won a Bradley Prize for journalistic excellence: “Ms. Strassel’s Potomac Watch column is an essential example of journalistic excellence,” said Michael W. Grebe, President and CEO of the Bradley Foundation. “Her keen focus on government transparency and accountability as well as her important analyses […]

Seattle Times editorial board favors data-center tax incentives. Here's why they're right.

The Times editorial gets right to the point. When lawmakers return for business in January, they should reauthorize Washington’s server-farm tax break, and pronto. Our September 2013 report, Economic Impact of Data Centers on Central Washington (clever title, that), helps explain why. World class industries have located in Central Washington, providing stable, diversified em- ployment and expanded tax bases for […]

Governor's climate committee looks at cap-and-trade through an international lens; interstate battles over energy policy

Crosscut reports that the governor’s climate change committee heard yesterday from United Kingdom experts on their experience with cap-and-trade. Among other things, the experts say, “it’s complicated.” However, Inslee suggested that a rudimentary cap-and-trade proposal could be mapped out this year, noting that Great Britain started out with a limited program that grew more sophisticated as the […]

"Day of Action" for $15 minimum wage, union-backed strikes and the risks of urban progressivism

Another day of fast-food “strikes” inspired and promoted by labor unions to set a $15 minimum wage. (KING 5 has video of the Seattle activity.) Josh Eidelson, a former union organizer, writes at Salon about the day’s events. The actions, which will be announced at a noon press event in Manhattan, were discussed this week in New […]

Washington ranks No. 33 in Chief Executive magazine's 2014 "Best & Worst States for Business" report

The springtime business climate reports are beginning to appear. Chief Executive magazine is out with its annual “best and worst states for business” rankings. Washington comes in at No. 33 (No. 1 is best and goes to Texas). The Evergreen State moved up three places from last year’s No. 36, but is still well entrenched […]

Marijuana taxation and licensing

There were a few interesting stories on marijuana in Washington on Friday. First, according to the AP, a federal lawsuit has been filed challenging Washington state’s authority to tax marijuana as long as marijuana remains illegal under federal law. The case arises from the state’s attempt to collect sales taxes from a medical marijuana dispensary […]

More details on Seattle's proposed $15 minimum wage

The Puget Sound Business Journal has a good overview. As the PSBJ reports, it’s complicated. Under the mayor’s proposal, which the City Council has to approve, businesses with fewer than 500 employees would have up to seven years to reach $15 an hour. But counting what is called “temporary compensation responsibility,” these small businesses would […]