Categories

Speaker Frank Chopp in Publicola: "My goal is to pass an increased statewide minimum wage."

Publicola asked House Speaker Frank Chopp if he regretted not moving Rep. Jessyn Farrell’s proposed $12 statewide minimum wage last session. They publish his response here. This is the crux, but you’d benefit from reading it in context. My goal is to pass an increased statewide minimum wage for Washington workers and families. I am […]

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 […]

Governor's climate committee looks at cap-and-trade through an international lens; interstate battles over energy policy

Crosscut reports that the governor’s climate change committee heard yesterday from United Kingdom experts on their experience with cap-and-trade. Among other things, the experts say, “it’s complicated.” However, Inslee suggested that a rudimentary cap-and-trade proposal could be mapped out this year, noting that Great Britain started out with a limited program that grew more sophisticated as the […]

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 […]

Seattle's $15 minimum wage debate heats up; Jordan Royer article in Crosscut provides needed perspective

The Seattle City Council and the Mayor’s Income Inequality Advisory Committee held a joint public hearing last night on the $15 minimum wage proposal. The Seattle Times has the story. It sounds like quite a show. About 700 people, many wearing red T-shirts with “15” on the front, cheered calls to enact a pay increase […]

Gubernatorial reactions to Chief Executive magazine's annual "Best & Worst States for Business" Report, including #36 Washington

In what looks a lot like a way to spark interest in the spring release of its annual ranking of state business climates based on CEO perceptions, Chief Executive magazine just published a list of how governors responded to the 2013 rankings. Here’s how the magazine conducts its ranking. Business leaders were asked to grade […]

State business climates matter, drive interstate economic competition

Last week I posted on the flawed Good Jobs First study purporting to demonstrate that business climate rankings are worthless, ideological exercises. My column today debunks the charge that the studies are bunk. I encourage you to read it and share your thoughts with me. It’s nonsense to argue that there’s nothing to be gained […]

Washington slips to 11th place in Forbes business climate rankings

Last week Forbes released its annual list of the best states for business. Washington fell out of the top 10, coming in at No. 11 for 2012. We’ve been sliding since ranking No. 2 in 2009. As we’ve written before, it’s a mistake to assign too much weight to any of these things. There’s always […]