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Debt and Taxes

A Stateline article notes that nationally this year the bulk of the ballot initiatives focus on fiscal, rather than social issues.  This is certainly the case in Washington, where we have initiatives affecting taxes and state debt, among others.  Yesterday we posted policy briefs on two of these:  Referendum 52 and Initiative 1053. R-52 asks […]

R-52 and I-1053

The Research Council has pubished briefs on Referendum 52 and Initiative 1053: The first, Referendum 52: $505 Million to Fund Energy Savings at Universities, Colleges and Public Schools, is available here. The second, Initiative 1053: Requiring a Two-Thirds Majority to Increase Taxes, is available here.

Deductions and I-1098

For Washington residents, I-1098 defines taxable income to be adjusted gross income (AGI) as calculated at the bottom of the first page of the federal 1040 income tax form less interest received on federal obligations (which the state is prohibited from taxing). The deductions that are itemized on Schedule A and entered on the second […]

Money They Don't Need

Nick Hanauer, a backer of I-1098, gave TechFlash a quote that he must have thought helped the cause: “For people like me and Jeff Bezos and Steve Ballmer, this is a very expensive tax. People where 99 percent of your income is above $500,000, this is a very expensive tax, and I get how it’s […]

Just Trust Us

An editorial in Sunday's Columbian, urging voters to reject I-1098, talks about trust.  The income tax proposal is written to apply to individuals making over $200,000 (and married couples making over $400,000); consequently, supporters are selling it as being a tax on the rich only. But the Columbian isn't buying it: Oh, but the measure […]

Times Editorial From Rasmussen's WRC Dinner Remarks: "Cynical Nation"

The Seattle Times draws on Scott Rasmussen's speech at the Research Council dinner for this excellent editorial. "People don't trust government projections," Rasmussen said. "Eighty-one percent believe that whatever the government says, it will cost more." Who is to say the people are wrong? If they believe this, they learned to believe it. The great […]

Pollster Scott Rasmussen Featured Speaker at WRC's 78th Annual Meeting

Join us Wednesday, May 26, at the Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle, to celebrate 78 years of the Washington Research Council. Our keynote speaker will be Scott Rasmussen, founder and president of Rasmussen Reports, one of the nation’s premier polling firms. The meeting begins as 7:00 p.m. Reception begins at 5:30. Contact the WRC […]

Governors Enlist Interest Groups in Effort to Boost Taxes

The Wall Street Journal today carries a story pegging of Delaware Gov. Jack Markell's efforts to get voters to understand the state's budget shortfall. It's a strategy many governors, including Gov. Gregoire, are using as they look ahead to years of structural deficits, exacerbated by steep and prolonged revenue declines. Does this sound familiar? "Elected […]

A Roundup of Recent I-1033 Stories and a Reminder

First, the reminder: If you haven’t done so yet, take a look at the Washington Research Council analysis of Initiative 1033. The initiative caps growth in state revenues, returning revenue above the limit to property taxpayers. The WRC report shows how this works in practice. As the election nears, the campaigns gets a little warmer. […]

Initiative 1033

TVW has video coverage of proponents and opponents debating debating Initiative 1033 before the Seattle Times editorial board. WRC groupies will particularly enjoy the segment running from 30:15 to 33:15.