Blog

New Brief: The Budget Arc: State Spending from Expansion to Recession, 2003-2013

Our latest policy brief looks at state spending trends from 2003 to 2013.  The recession isn’t the only reason the state budget situation is such a mess.  Spending choices made in flusher years are also contributing factors. The numbers we cite for the 2011-13 biennium are as budgeted — they will be cut further.  The […]

New Brief: I-1163: Once, Twice, Still Not a Priority

We have taken a look at Initiative 1163, and the resulting policy brief is here. I-1163 would essentially make the state implement training and background check requirements for long-term care workers (which were approved by voters in 2008) this biennium.  The program never had a dedicated source of funding, and the legislature has never implemented […]

New Brief: I-1125: Jamming Transportation Planning

We have a new brief today on Initiative 1125, which would affect tolling and transportation policy in Washington. The initiative would forbid the transfer of revenues in the motor vehicle fund or any toll fund to the general fund; require that lanes funded by the gas tax or tolls be used for highway purposes; require […]

New Brief: SJR 8206: A Prudent Savings Measure

In our new brief, we take a look at SJR 8206 — a constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot in November. The amendment would save any extraordinary revenue growth (growth that exceeds by one-third the average revenue growth over the prior five biennia) in the Budget Stabilization Account.  Years in which there is […]

State Analysts and WRC Agree: I-1183 Generates Positive State/Local Revenues

We have posted a Policy Brief titled State Analysts and WRC Agree: I-1183 Generates Positive State/Local Revenues. Here is a link to the brief.

New Brief: The 2011-13 Budget and the Upcoming Revenue Forecast

As Kriss reported on Sunday, the September 15 revenue forecast probably won’t be pretty:  “[State economist Arun] Raha indicated that a major downward adjustment to the forecast of state revenue for the 2011-13 biennium is forthcoming.” In light of that, we have a new brief today that describes some of the policy changes made in […]

New Brief: Initiatives and Referenda at the Local Level

Today we published a new brief on the local initiative and referendum process in Washington.  Washington has 281 cities and 39 counties.  Depending on the type of city or county, residents may or may not have the powers of initiative and referendum locally–in 59 cities and six counties, they do.

Initiative 1183 Would Produce Revenue Gains for State and Local Governments

The Research Council has published a Special Report on I-1183. Briefly: Initiative 1183 would end the state monopoly over the liquor sales and distribution system in Washington. Our analysis shows that state and local governments would gain $443 million in additional revenue over six years under the initiative, compared to the current state monopoly baseline. […]

Policy Brief: New Reforms to Workers' Compensation

Our wrap-up of the changes made this legislative session to the workers’ compensation system is now posted.  It follows several other reports on the subject and the need for reform: Employment Cost Drivers in Washington State, The Time Has Come to Fix Workers’ Compensation, and Mainstreaming Workers’ Compensation. In these reports, we have consistently called […]

Washington Fares Poorly in New Business Tax Rankings

According to calculations by Ernst & Young LLP, the state and local tax burden faced by businesses siting new facilities or expanding existing facilities in Washington ranks among the highest in the nation. Our Policy Brief on the report is available here. The Ernst & Young report itself is available here.