New WRC Report: Washington's Prosperity Depends on Vibrant Tech Sector
The Research Council has posted a report titled “Washington’s Prosperity Depends on Vibrant Tech Sector,” which can be downloaded here. Briefly: Washington’s vibrant tech cluster has had a strong, positive effect on the state economy. The sector accounts for nearly two-thirds of Washington’s job growth since 1990 and more than half of the growth in […]
October 24 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: A Complex Maze of State and Local Laws and Regulations
As we have noted previously (see here and here), the state auditor’s office is working on a performance audit of the state regulatory system. So far, an inventory of state regulations and a report on communicating regulatory information and streamlining business rules have been completed. Two key points from the latter are: Ultimately, anything other […]
October 22 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Labor Costs in Washington
In a new policy brief today, we take a general look at some aspects of labor costs in Washington. Unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation have been reformed recently by the legislature, but they remain costly compared to other states. Additionally, Washington’s minimum wage is the highest in the country, and laws regarding prevailing wage, paid […]
October 09 , 2012 - Kriss Sjoblom
New Policy Brief: Great Recession and Not So Great Recovery–Job Losses and Gains by Sector
The Research Council has posted a new Policy Brief “Great Recession and Not So Great Recovery: Job Losses and Gains by Sector.” The brief can be downloaded here.
October 03 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Initiative 1240: Improving Education Options with Charter Schools
Initiative 1240, if approved by voters, would allow 40 public charter schools over five years. Charter schools are noncontroversial nationally (41 states allow them), and they would provide parents and students in Washington an additional public school option. Our policy brief on I-1240 is available here.
September 28 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Initiative 1185: Reaffirming a Supermajority Requirement for Tax Increases
We have a new policy brief today on I-1185, which would again require a two-thirds legislative supermajority for tax increases. The requirement was last approved in 2010. Because it has been two years since then, the legislature could amend, repeal, or suspend the requirement — unless I-1185 is approved by voters. Our brief looks at […]
August 23 , 2012 - Kriss Sjoblom
New Policy Brief: COST Study on Business Tax Burden
We have posted a policy brief on the 2012 edition of Ernst & Young’s annual study of state and local business tax burdens, which is published by the Council on State Taxation (COST). In fiscal year 2011, businesses paid a total of $16.3 billion in state and local taxes in Washington, representing 5.5 percent of […]
June 26 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Characteristics of a Healthy Business Climate
In a new policy brief, we look at how Washington fares in nine recent business climate rankings. The rankings come from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, the Beacon Hill Institute, Chief Executive magazine, Site Selection magazine, Forbes, CNBC, Thumbtack.com, and Development Counsellors, Inc. Criteria and emphasis differ among the […]
June 20 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Implementing Washington's Health Benefit Exchange
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (federal health care reform) is a hot topic these days, as the Supreme Court is expected to release its decision on the constitutionality of the law soon. One part of the federal legislation is a requirement that states establish health benefit exchanges through which individuals and small businesses […]
June 14 , 2012 - Kriss Sjoblom
New Policy Brief: Five Keys to Evaluating a Tax System
We have posted a Policy Brief, Five Keys to Evaluating a Tax System, that explains the principles the Research Council uses when evaluating tax policies.