New Brief: Initiative 1351 Class Size Reduction: A $4.7 Billion Unfunded Mandate with Dubious Educational Merit
In a new policy brief, we look at Initiative 1351, which will be on the ballot in November. I-1351 would reduce class sizes for kindergarten through 12th grade. Below are a few main points about the initiative, which are fleshed out in the brief. It would increase state K–12 spending by $4.7 billion through 2019—over […]
July 15 , 2014 - Kriss Sjoblom
New Policy Brief: About That Mythical $8.7 Billion Tax Break . . .
We have posted a new policy brief regarding aerospace tax incentives: About That Mythical $8.7 Billion Tax Break . . . Briefly: A competitive tax policy is not a “subsidy” that costs the state money. It is, rather, a pragmatic response to the marketplace, including the global competition for major industrial projects. Tax policies adopted […]
June 11 , 2014 - Emily Makings
New brief: A Newly Expanded SEPA Threatens Washington's Competitiveness
As part of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), the Department of Ecology and other agencies have recently used expanded scopes of review for certain proposals. Under these scopes, the agencies are considering impacts that go beyond state borders, to an unprecedented extent. In a new policy brief, we look at what is happening, outline […]
March 20 , 2014 - Emily Makings
New Brief: The 2014 Supplemental Budget Increases Education Spending, Holds Line on New Taxes, and Fails to Extend R&D Credits
In a new policy brief, we write about the 2014 supplemental operating budget that was passed by the Legislature. The gist: It makes mostly minor changes to the 2013–15 operating budget while increasing spending for public schools—a prelude to next session’s likely focus on meeting the state’s McCleary obligations.
March 06 , 2014 - Emily Makings
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.
February 27 , 2014 - Emily Makings
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.)
February 25 , 2014 - Emily Makings
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.
February 19 , 2014 - Kriss Sjoblom
New policy brief: Washington's Minimum Wage and Teenage Unemployment
We have posted a new policy brief, Washington’s Minimum Wage and Teenage Unemployment, which includes a chart I made for the last meeting of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers. Here’s a link to the brief.
February 13 , 2014 - Kriss Sjoblom
New Policy Brief: Supporting Research and Development with Responsible Tax Policy
We have posted a new policy brief titled Supporting Research and Development with Responsible Tax Policy, which can be downloaded this link.
February 03 , 2014 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Sector Distribution of Washington's Minimum Wage Jobs
Last week we released a policy brief on the county distribution of Washington’s minimum wage jobs. Today we have a follow-up to that report: Sector Distribution of Washington’s Minimum Wage Jobs. The accommodation and food services, retail trade and agricultural sectors would be most affected by any increase in the minimum wage.