Blog

STEMming the skills gap – better education boosts the economy

In my column this morning I address the recent Washington Roundtable/Boston Consulting Group report on the skills gap. It’s an urgent problem, one that’s costing us jobs now. Combining analyses of publicly-available employment and education data with executive interviews, BCG was able to document the economic impact of the skills gap in Washington. The researchers […]

Policy reductions in Senate chair's budget total $422.9 million

The Senate Ways and Means Committee chair’s 2013-15 budget proposal would increase near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways spending by $2.084 billion over 2011-13. Included in that increase are $422.9 million of policy reductions. I’ve added these policy changes to the table I posted last week:   The Senate chair’s version would make net policy […]

Business leaders concerned that Inslee's tax hikes will hamper growth

Since Gov. Jay Inslee announced a budget that raised taxes $1.2 billion over the next biennium, business groups have argued that many of the proposed hikes will depress economic activity. AWB president Don Brunell identified the clear immediate consequence. Families and employers pay the government more money. Washington Retail Association president Jan Teague has an […]

Washington's Tax Freedom Day arrives April 20, ranking us 9th highest nationally

The Tax Foundation today released its annual Tax Freedom Day report. Tax Freedom Day is the day when the nation as a whole has earned enough money to pay its total tax bill for the year… In 2013, Americans will pay $2.76 trillion in federal taxes and $1.45 trillion in state taxes, for a total […]

New policy brief: Revenue and Caseload Forecasts Set the Stage for Budget Writers

We have posted a new policy brief, Revenue and Caseload Forecasts Set the Stage for Budget Writers, which can be downloaded through this link.

Taxing beer and marijuana

As part of its fiscal impact statement for I-502, the Office of Financial Management estimated that excise taxes and license fees on legalized marijuana would increase state revenues by $434.2 million in FY 2015, $447.2 million in FY 2016, and $460.6 million in FY 2017. Now, as reported by the Seattle Times, Washington’s new marijuana […]

Moving day

Today is our last day at our offices in Tukwila. Beginning Monday, we will be working from our new space in downtown Seattle: 520 Pike Street, Suite 1250. You'll still be able to access our work from all the usual places: Sign up to receive notices by email of publications and blog posts (see the […]

Policy increases total $623 million in Gov. Inslee's budget proposal

Governor Inslee’s 2013-15 budget proposal would increase near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) spending over the enacted 2011-13 budget (with 2012 supplemental) by $3.184 billion. I’ve gone through the budget details to get the policy versus maintenance changes split. Gov. Inslee’s proposal assumes NGFS+ maintenance increases totaling $2.561 billion, and it would make NGFS+ […]

Closing skill gap expands opportunity, adds jobs, boosts economy

A new report released by the Boston Consulting Group and the Washington Roundtable identifies the benefits to state residents and employers from closing the “skills gap” – the mismatch between the jobs available and the qualifications of the workers seeking employment. Here are some highlights from the press release. See also the complete Great Jobs Within […]

WA, OR governors urge review of climate change effect of coal ports: A new regulatory hurdle for major projects?

Yesterday, Gov. Jay Inslee and Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber sent a letter to Council of Environmental Quality chair Nancy Sutley, urging the CEQ to consider the long-term environmental consequences of proposed coal export terminals in the two states. Their request is broad. Well, it’s global. We believe the decisions to continue and expand coal leasing […]