27th of January 2017
25th of January 2017
New Policy Brief: Washington State Businesses Pay 58 Percent of State and Local Taxes
We're out with a new policy brief on business taxation, "Washington State Businesses Pay 58 Percent of State and Local Taxes." It gives an overview of how and how much Washington businesses are taxed, and compares us to the rest of the country. Here are some highlights: The percentage of Washington’s private sector gross state […]
24th of October 2016
Special Report: Expanded state environmental regulations have negative impacts for Washington
Today we're publishing a new Special Report, "The Expanded SEPA [State Environmental Policy Act] Has Reduced Regulatory Certainty in Washington." You can read the report here. In 2013 and 2014, the state Department of Ecology expanded the scope of review for the purposes of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) beyond state borders, in a […]
9th of September 2016
Aerospace tax incentives could help lure startup to Seattle
The Puget Sound Business Journal reported earlier this week on some new business that may be coming Washington state's way: Spike Aerospace, a Boston startup developing an ambitious new supersonic business jet, is talking with Washington state officials and aerospace suppliers about possibly locating its new manufacturing plant in Seattle. The company's CEO, Vik Kachoria, […]
11th of September 2015
14th of November 2014
Washington ranks No. 8 in latest Forbes "best states for business" rankings
In Forbes magazine’s 2014 Best States for Business, Washington finishes in 8th place. Not bad in the 50 state field. Win, place and show go to Utah, North Dakota and North Carolina, respectively. As is common in the Forbes rankings, Washington fares best on measures of economic vitality and falls down on business costs and quality […]
3rd of November 2014
Supporting biotech and more with growth-oriented tax policy
H. Stewart Parker, a pioneer in Washington’s life sciences industry, writes in today’s Seattle Times that our state risks falling behind in the competition for biotech investment. Washington has a lot going for it business-wise, but we must not underestimate the competition for the life-sciences industry. The Washington state Legislature did not renew our industry tax […]
28th of October 2014
Washington stays at No. 11 on Tax Foundations 2015 State Business Tax Climate Index
The Tax Foundation today releases its 2015 State Business Tax Climate Index, again finding Washington among the best, just out of the top ten at No. 11. From the group's press release for Washington. The breakdown of Washington’s ranking this year is as follows (1st is best, 50th is worst): * Washington’s overall State Business […]
12th of June 2014
Thumbtack gives Washington a C grade for "small business friendliness" – low marks for regulation
Another business climate ranking came out recently. This one comes from Thumbtack.com, with support from the Kauffman Foundation. Washington doesn’t do so well. Unsurprisingly, the regulatory environment pulled the overall score down considerably. Some of the key findings for Washington include: Washington earned one of the worst grades in the country for its regulations – […]