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Washington Policy Blog

One Small Step for the State’s Small Business Climate, One Giant Leap for New Businesses

February 03, 2012

On Wednesday, the House Economic Development, Trade & Innovation Committee approved SB 6327.  The bill now moves to the Ways & Means Committee for further consideration.

SB 6327 would create a one-year exemption from the state Business & Occupation (B&O) tax for all new businesses and a two-year exemption, plus a 50 percent exemption in the third year, for new businesses employing fewer than 25 people.

Will Governor Gregoire force committee chair to allow a Senate vote on charter school bill?

February 03, 2012

Today the charter school bill introduced in the state Senate either proceeds or dies.  The Chair of that committee, Senator Rosemary McAuliffe (D-Bothell) is trying to block the vote on the bill.  Today the Everett Herald reports that the Governor has intervened. 

Six-year budget outlook requirement heard in the House

February 02, 2012

The House Ways and Means Committee heard public testimony yesterday on HB 2607: Requiring a six-year budget outlook tied to existing revenues. Regularly publishing a multi-year budget outlook is one of the many recommendations in WPC's Policy Guide for Washington State.

$1.50 Oil Barrel Tax probably dead

February 02, 2012

Is the Governor’s proposed oil barrel tax dead? Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee thinks it is.

During her remarks this morning at the Washington State Good Roads and Transportation Association in Olympia, Sen. Haugen bucked most in her party who think the charge is a fee and said she believes it is actually a tax.

She also said it will be challenged on the floor and based on Lt. Governor Brad Owen’s past rulings on tax vs. fee issues, he will likely also rule the $1.50 charge is a tax.

Executive session taping bill receives public hearing

January 31, 2012

The Senate Committee on Government Operations heard public testimony today on SB 6109: Exempting video and audio recordings of closed executive session meetings from public inspection and copying. SB 6109 reflects a new strategy by the Attorney General and State Auditor to ensure that executive sessions aren't being misused in violations of the state's Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA).

Public Transit is not underfunded in Washington

January 31, 2012

The following are the key findings in our latest study, and the most recent report in WPC’s five part series looking at the 2012 transportation funding plan.

DOR requests 5 year sunsets for new tax preferences

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

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?

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."

Sound Transit performance audit awarded to TKW

January 26, 2012

The State Auditor's Office has selected Talbot, Korvola & Warwick, LLP (TKW), in conjunction with Delcan Corporation to conduct the performance audit of Sound Transit.

In its proposal, the company says its approach will include the following scope of questions:

1. Has Sound Transit implemented the State Auditor’s recommendations from the prior performance audit in time to benefit Sound Transit 2, which was approved by voters on November 4, 2008? If not, how was ST2 affected?

State argues 18-year-old 2/3 vote requirement for taxes is constitutional

January 24, 2012

Acting on behalf of the state the Attorney General's Office has once again argued the 1993 voter-approved requirement for a 2/3 vote to raise taxes is constitutional (policy has been subsequently re-approved by the voters and legislature on multiple occasions). 

Here are some pull quotes from the state's motion for summary judgment in the most recent legal challenge:

Legislators introduce bill to toll Alaskan Way Viaduct

January 23, 2012

SB 6444 and its companion bill HB 2675, would add the central portion of State Route 99 in downtown Seattle as an eligible tolled facility.

Charter public schools would give us more Eric Pettigrews

January 20, 2012

The air was electric at today’s House hearing on HB 2428.  Everyone in the room knew that this bill, if it passes, would allow the first charter public schools in Washington’s history.  This bill, if it passes, would move Washington state into the vanguard of education reform.  This bill, if it passes, will remove Washington from the list of nine backwater states which currently ban charter public schools. <

Indonesian railway stringing concrete balls to deter roof riders

January 19, 2012

A common problem in some countries is passengers riding on the roofs of trains because there is not enough room inside. So instead of adding more train cars, officials in Indonesia have a different approach....stringing concrete balls across the tracks to presumably knock people off if they decide to hitch a ride on the roof. Read the article and watch the video. 

Meanwhile, Sound Transit officials have more pressing problems...Light-rail riders drop their pants to lift spirits.

State Auditor sheds light on local government finances

January 17, 2012

State Auditor Brian Sonntag launched a new website today that allows citizens to quickly find data on local government finances. Here is a summary of the new resource:

Welcome to the new Local Government Finance Reporting System (LGFRS).  This site is designed to mirror the annual report data submitted to the State Auditor’s Office by local governments.  It includes unaudited data for all local governments . . .