Big Savings From Workers' Comp Reform
As we have reported numerous times, including in a recent policy brief, the Washington workers’ compensation system must be reformed. At the beginning of March, the Senate passed a bill (ESB 5566) that would do just that. Yesterday the fiscal note for the bill was released, and it confirms what we already knew: the provisions […]
March 21 , 2011 - Richard S. Davis
More thoughts on the revenue forecast and budget shortfall
Kriss posted the WRC policy brief on the March revenue forecast. Today, Crosscut ran my article on the forecast and budget gap. A couple of excerpts: Lawmakers facing a multi-billion dollar shortfall will want to spend everything Raha has identified for them. They shouldn’t. Remember, he also said downside risks are twice as high as […]
March 21 , 2011 - Emily Makings
The Transportation Budget and the Gas Tax
Today the House released its 2011-13 transportation budget proposal. It would appropriate $8.924 billion for transportation operations and capital needs. That’s $1.8 million more than the governor proposed spending. Of note, from the summary: Transportation revenue sources have continued to grow more slowly than expected, with projected revenues for the 2011-13 biennium $100 million less […]
March 18 , 2011 - Kriss Sjoblom
Brief on March Revenue Forecast
We have posted a Policy Brief on the March revenue forecast, which can be downloaded through this link.
March 17 , 2011 - Kriss Sjoblom
March Forecast
This afternoon the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council reduced the forecast of general fund–state revenues for current 2009–11 biennium by $79.8 million to $28.047 billion and the forecast for the 2011–13 biennium by $698.4 million to $31.907 billion. These reductions were smaller than many had feared. As require by law, the baseline forecasts were […]
March 16 , 2011 - Emily Makings
Charting Stadium Funding
Earlier this month, SHB 1997 was passed by the House. Under the bill, instead of ending stadium taxes when the debt is paid off, they would be used for arts and heritage programs, affordable housing, community development, and the Washington State Convention Center. Via Politics Northwest, here is a very useful chart from the Office […]
March 15 , 2011 - Emily Makings
Budget Trickery Ahead?
As Kriss said, Thursday’s revenue forecast will likely bring yet another downward revision of revenues. Worries about the magnitude of the drop have led to discussion of possibly using a number of budget tricks that would push the problem forward. See the Times, the Olympian, and Washington State Wire. I think Erik Smith is a […]
March 15 , 2011 - Emily Makings
Workers' Comp Reform: Part 1 Down, Part 2 To Go
Yesterday Governor Gregoire signed SB 5801 into law: “We know we need to help more workers return to good health and back on the job after an injury, as well as reduce costs for our taxpayers and businesses,” Gregoire said. “This bill does both. It improves outcomes for our employees, while saving more than $200 […]
March 14 , 2011 - Richard S. Davis
Perspectives on public pension problems…
Over the last week, we’ve seen some conflicting reports on the status of state and local plans nationally. A McClatchy story carried in several local papers suggested that the widely cited problems have been overblown. Quick dissent followed, but let’s allow the no-problem voices to go first. From McClatchy: There’s simply no evidence that state […]
March 14 , 2011 - Emily Makings
Workers' Compensation Needs Fixing
The News Tribune has a good editorial today on workers’ compensation. It questions opposition to the reform bill (ESB 5566) that passed the Senate. Specifically, it questions opposition to the provision that would allow injured workers to choose a voluntary settlement instead of a pension. There’s not much controversy over the subsidy part of the […]