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Washington Policy Blog

Gregoire's lame-duck tax increase proposal

December 18, 2012 in Blog

Taxes took center stage today in Olympia. Out-going Governor Gregoire released her last budget proposal along with her suggested tax increases.

A Tax Hike By Any Other Name…is Still a Tax Hike

December 17, 2012 in Blog

Last week the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESC) issued a press release announcing unemployment tax rates will be unchanged for most employers in 2013.

Potential Democrat sponsors for supermajority for taxes constitutional amendment

December 12, 2012 in Blog

With almost all of the legislative Republicans on the record in support of providing the voters an opportunity to consider a supermajority for taxes constitutional amendment, are there any Democrats that believe the voters should have this chance? 

USA Today Report Echoes WPC Finding on 'Green' Schools

December 11, 2012 in Blog

A report in the USA Today found that "green" schools in other states don't actually perform as promised. The report, "Green Schools: Long on promise, short on delivery," gave this example from the Houston Independent School District:

Teacher union president wrong on school funding

December 10, 2012 in Blog

Today Mary Lindquist, president of the Washington Education Association, posted a cranky attack on legislative leaders Senators Tom, Litzow and Sheldon. She claims they have been “slashing school funding by $2.5 billion.”

Comparing late ballots in OR and WA

December 10, 2012 in Blog

In response to our recommendation that lawmakers act on retiring Secretary of State Sam Reed's proposal to change Washington's postmark ballot deadline to Oregon's 8 p.m. election day deadline (with exceptions for military and overseas voters), some have expressed concern that doing so would reduce voter participation and disenfranchise voters.

Wherein I Plagiarize Blatantly From the Sightline Institute

December 7, 2012 in Blog

It is a bit of a dreary, winter Friday. Since my coffee has not yet kicked in, I will simply plagiarize this excellent paragraph from Alan Durning of the Sightline Institute.

Michigan shows need for Washington legislative transparency reforms

December 7, 2012 in Blog

When I saw this headline today out of Michigan I didn't think the article would become the poster child for legislative transparency reforms, but that's exactly what the story demonstrates: Right-to-work bills pass in Lansing

Waterville teachers to WEA: Let my people go

December 7, 2012 in Blog

Last month, teachers in the Waterville School District won their independence from the Washington Education Association, the state teachers’ union. See The Wenatchee World article here.

Group forms to block voter-approved charter schools

December 6, 2012 in Blog

The election results are barely certified for voter-approved Initiative 1240, the most hopeful education reform passed in Washington in decades. Opponents have formed a group to prevent children in need from attending a charter school. A new group called Protect Our Public Schools (POPS) has announced its creation as an affiliate of a national group that works against education reform in the states (see announcement below).

Voters' mandate on tax increases

December 5, 2012 in Blog

What constitutes a clear mandate from the voters?

Let's consider the electoral history of the state's supermajority for taxes requirement.

Is it going five for five at the ballot box? Check (passed in 1993, 1998, 2007, 2010 and 2012).

Is it nearly 20 years of consistent support? Check.

Is it receiving the highest % support of any other statewide measure or office? Check (64%).

Is it receiving the most total number of votes of any other statewide measure or office? Check (1,892,969).

Is it passing in every county in the state? Check.

Spokane City Council to vote on taxpayer protection measure Dec. 17th

December 5, 2012 in Blog

The Spokane City Council will decide December 17th whether to follow Pierce County’s lead and place a supermajority requirement to raise taxes before voters.

The charter change would require any new or increased taxes get a majority plus one vote - or five votes total - on the city council to pass.  Currently four “yes” votes are needed for the council to increases taxes on Spokane residents.

9 of the top 10 cities with the worst traffic in America are in blue states

December 4, 2012 in Blog

Traffic congestion is a serious problem in major cities across the country. INRIX, an international traffic data firm in Seattle produces a National Traffic Scorecard that ranks the top 100 metro cities based on hours wasted in traffic congestion. In 2011, drivers in these cities wasted an average of 16.0 hours per year in traffic congestion.

Washington school districts allowed to isolate children in padded cells and tie their limbs together

November 30, 2012 in Blog

KOMO News and Q13 Fox are reporting that schools in Washington are using padded cells to isolate special needs children who misbehave. Responding to public outrage, the Longview School District just announced it will discontinue the practice. The Burlington School District defends use of this practice.

Group calls for closing low-performing charter schools

November 29, 2012 in Blog

Today’s Seattle Times reports that the National Association of Charter School Authorizers says that states with weak charter laws should strengthen their laws to shut down their low-performing charter schools. Fortunately Washington's brand-new charter law is one of the strongest laws in the country.