New Brief: Legislature Closes the 2011-13 Budget Gap, At Last
Our overview of the 2012 supplemental passed by the legislature last week is here. Future briefs will focus on the reforms that were passed as part of the compromise, and readers should keep in mind that the governor will not act on the budget bill until May 2 (so the numbers are still in flux). […]
March 08 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Comparing House and Senate Supplemental Budgets
Our policy brief on the House- and Senate-passed 2012 supplemental budgets is available here.
February 24 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: House Ways & Means Chair's Proposed 2012 Supplemental
On Tuesday, Rep. Hunter released his proposed 2012 supplemental budget. Our brief on the proposal is available here.
February 03 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Nation's Seventh-Best Business Climate?
Last week, the Tax Foundation released its annual ranking of state business tax climates. Washington–largely thanks to our lack of an income tax–ranks seventh in the nation. In a policy brief, we discuss the ranking and what it means for Washington. This brief builds on a post from Dick last week.
February 01 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: The First 2012 Supplemental Budget
During this legislative session, legislators must close a significant 2011-13 budget shortfall. They started the work during the special session late last year. In a new policy brief today, we look at the 2012 supplemental that was enacted in December. It solved only part of the budget problem.
January 30 , 2012 - Kriss Sjoblom
Machinery & Equipment Exemption Key to Keeping Jobs, Investments in Washington
Manufacturing continues to be a strength of Washington’s economy. We have published a Policy Brief on the machinery and equipment exemption, which contributes to that strength by encouraging the capital investments that anchor manufacturing here.
January 24 , 2012 - Emily Makings
New Brief: The Drag of Unfunded Commitments
During the current legislative session, legislators must close a significant remaining 2011-13 budget shortfall. When in a situation like this, it is tempting to suspend programs rather than eliminate them, in the hopes that the economy will improve in the next biennium. Indeed, legislators have deferred spending on various programs, in this biennium and previously. […]
December 05 , 2011 - Emily Makings
New Brief: Governor's 2012 Supplemental Budget Proposal
In a new brief, we detail Governor Gregoire’s proposed 2012 supplemental budget. Not only does the governor propose a long list of spending cuts and fund transfers, she also recommends a number of revenue raisers — including, of course, an increase in the sales tax. Should voters and the legislature agree to increase taxes, the […]
November 18 , 2011 - Kriss Sjoblom
Trends in Washington's Life Sciences Industry 2007-2011
An economic impact analysis of the state’s life sciences industry by the Research Council was released today at the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association’s Governor’s Life Sciences Summit and Annual Meeting. We estimate that the various segments of the life sciences industry directly employed over 33,500 people in the state in 2010. Those life science […]
November 08 , 2011 - Emily Makings
Thrive Washington: Setting Priorities, Marking Progress
The last of nine Thrive Washington papers is now available: Setting Priorities, Marking Progress. Thrive Washington is a research series developed by the Washington Roundtable and the Washington Research Council. Other papers focused on fiscal policy, business costs, competitive sourcing, health care, government restructuring, regulatory reform, and economic development. The final paper reviews progress made by […]