Washington Policy Center

Washington Policy Center is an independent, non-partisan think tank promoting sound public policy based on free-market solutions.

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WPC and small business owners ask legislature to reform costly programs and regulations

At a press conference in Olympia on January 24, Washington Policy Center and small business owners presented lawmakers with practical ways they can improve Washington's small business climate and spur economic recovery in the state.

Watch the press conference

The Latest from Washington Policy Blog

DOR requests 5 year sunsets for new tax preferences
By Jason Mercier
January 27, 2012

The state Department of Revenue (DOR) is requesting legislation that would automatically sunset any new, extended, or amended tax preference after 5 years. DOR's request bill (HB 2530) is scheduled for a public hearing at 3:30 on Monday.

According to DOR:

Superintendents: Turn your districts into charter school districts, like the one in New Orleans
By Liv Finne
January 26, 2012

Neerav Kingsland, chief strategy officer for New Schools for New Orleans, has written a great open letter to urban superintendents across the nation.   The five parts of this letter have been published this week in Rick Hess’ Education Week blog, starting with Part I on Monday, January 23 and ending tomorrow, Friday, January 27th.

Mr. Kingsland says this to the urban superintendents:  Stop trying to be Reformers of your centralized bureaucracies.  Start being Relinquishers of power.  Give that power to independently run charter public schools. 

Remember the budget deficit?
By Jason Mercier
January 26, 2012

As we conclude the 18th day of the 2012 REGULAR Session, the lack of legislative urgency to solve the state's billion dollar plus deficit grows more troubling with each passing day. It's been 92 days since the Governor called last December's special session declaring "timely legislative action is needed to secure the State’s fiscal health and address the shortfall in the 2011-2013 operating budget."

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