Blog

Loopholes? Really?

Over on the Taxgirl blog, Kelly Phillips Erb ponders press coverage of Bill and Hillary Clinton’s estate tax reduction strategies (Admit It: The Clintons Didn’t Do Any Tax Planning You Wouldn’t Do). Along the way, she discusses the misuse of the term “tax loophole.” We all want to criticize tax reduction strategies as somehow un-American […]

Looking ahead: Minimum wage, fish consumption, data centers, and cap & trade.

The week ends with a few stories reflecting some changes ahead: Minimum Wage Puget Sound Business Journal asks, $15 minimum wage: What will Seattle restaurants with Eastside locations do? Some of the answers aren’t good. A Crosscut article, Seattle on verge of ‘historic’ action on minimum wage, closes with a curious quote from Seattle councilmember Sally Clark, who […]

Seattle, nation's fastest growing city, and some bumps in the road ahead: business costs, housing affordability, and rising taxes

The Census Bureau reported last week that Seattle was the nation’s fastest growing city. From the Seattle Times story: From July 1, 2012 to July 1, 2013, Seattle grew by 2.8 percent — the highest rate among the 50 most-populous U.S. cities. Seattle added nearly 18,000 residents in the one-year period, bringing its population to about 652,000. The Times notes […]

Seattle Times editorial board favors data-center tax incentives. Here's why they're right.

The Times editorial gets right to the point. When lawmakers return for business in January, they should reauthorize Washington’s server-farm tax break, and pronto. Our September 2013 report, Economic Impact of Data Centers on Central Washington (clever title, that), helps explain why. World class industries have located in Central Washington, providing stable, diversified em- ployment and expanded tax bases for […]

Washington ranks No. 33 in Chief Executive magazine's 2014 "Best & Worst States for Business" report

The springtime business climate reports are beginning to appear. Chief Executive magazine is out with its annual “best and worst states for business” rankings. Washington comes in at No. 33 (No. 1 is best and goes to Texas). The Evergreen State moved up three places from last year’s No. 36, but is still well entrenched […]

Filing week begins: Quiz candidates on education funding, transportation, and the skills gap

This is the filing week, when candidates declare their intent to run in the 2014 elections. This year’s ballot includes all 10 U.S. House seats, including the open seat in the 4th District in Eastern Washington where Doc Hastings is retiring, the secretary of state’s office said. Also on the ballot are all 98 members of […]

Tax incentives for research and development are important to state economy

In my column today I address the state legislature’s failure to extend R&D tax incentives that have been in place since 1994. It’s a topic we’ve written on before, including this policy brief. Similar incentive programs are standard in most states, particularly those with a strong tech sector. I imagine their reinstatement will be a […]

Washington ranks #27 in new Tax Foundation study of state/local tax burdens

The full study is here.

If college football players are employees, do they owe taxes on their scholarships?

Last week the Director of the National Labor Relations Board’s Chicago region ruled that Northwestern University football players who receive scholarships from the university are “employees” under the terms of the National Labor Relations Act and as such have the legal right to form a union. The Seattle Times story is here; ruling itself is […]

Seattle Times business columnist faults Legislature for failing to renew R&D incentives

Jon Talton, business columnist for the Seattle Times, skipped subtlety and got right to the point in writing about the effects of some Legislative inaction in the recently completed session. Noting that it’s not correct to say lawmakers did nothing, he writes, In fact, legislators delivered a sledgehammer to state competitiveness by killing the nearly […]