Budget

Governor proposes $12 billion transportation plan fueled largely by new carbon fee (or is it a tax?)

Gov. Inslee launched the 2015 transportation finance debate yesterday, unveiling an ambitious plan and introducing a new “cap and trade” program. From the news release: Rather than raise the gas tax on all motorists, the plan would be funded largely through fees and bonding as well as on a new carbon pollution charge. Sources of […]

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 […]

Clarifying the 2015 budget picture

Kriss posted yesterday on the improved revenue picture. As Brad Shannon reports, the higher revenue collections are accompanied by higher caseload and enrollment numbers. State budget director David Schumacher told the Caseload Forecast Council meeting in Olympia that an expected increase in K-12 school enrollments alone may add $380 million to the state’s costs through June 2017, which […]

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 […]

Investment slows when tax policies are uncertain

The National Association of Manufacturers recently conducted a survey of businesses. Here’s the short form. The release today of NAM/IndustryWeek Survey of Manufacturers confirms what manufacturers have long known, the expiration of the on-again and off-again investment tax incentives have companies holding off on making key purchases and thus delays the robust economic growth we […]

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 […]

Gregoire on Cutting $2 Billion from State Budget: "Dreadful"

Consider Gov. Gregoire's press conference yesterday the kickoff for the official annual budget contest (it just doesn't seem appropriate to call something this consequential a "game"). As Austin Jenkins writes in the Washington Ledge, the conference had an air of deja vu. Throughout the recession, we've witnessed many such announcements, with many of the same […]