Recent Events
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2010
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2009
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2008
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2007
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2006
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2005
2010
2010 Legislative Briefing
WPC research directors gave an overview of their latest research and analysis on the key issues facing Washington citizens this Session at the state capitol on January 27th. More than 100 legislators and staff attended.
2009
2009 Statewide Small Business Conference 
This year’s conference was very well received by the over 250 attendees. Small business owners, legislators, and policymakers from all over Washington gathered in SeaTac on Tuesday, November 10th, to discuss the state's business climate at Washington Policy Center's 2009 Small Business Conference. During several interactive issue breakout sessions, business owners suggested and discussed solutions to improve the climate for small businesses in Washington. Co-sponsored by nearly 50 businesses, trade associations, and chambers of commerce across the state, this was the fourth statewide small business conference hosted by WPC since 2003.
Find out more and see pictures and videos here
Washington Policy Center was part of the world record for the largest ever simultaneous film premiere by hosting a world premiere showing of
Not Evil Just Wrong:The true cost of global warming hysteria
Sunday, October 18, 5 PM, at locations around the state
Click: washingtonpolicy.org/noteviljustwrong for more information
Our Largest Annual Dinner Yet Welcomes more than 1,100 People for an Evening of Insight and Laughter!
Sometimes there is such a thing as a good problem to have, as we discovered Tuesday evening. More than 1,100 of our closest friends and supporters packed the Grand Ballroom at the Seattle Sheraton for our largest ever Annual Dinner. Though more wanted to attend, there simply wasn't any more room! Thank you to all who attended for making this our most successful event yet!
Read more, see pictures, videos and more here
7th Annual Environmental Policy Luncheon & Conference
Featuring Climatologist Pat Michaels
Panel 1
The first morning panel, “Precautionary Principle”, featured , 
Senior Fellow, Alabama Policy Institute; , Director of Risk and Environmental Policy, Competitive Enterprise Institute; and , President and Government and Public Affairs Director, The Holt Company. Dr. Hill’s remarks focused on WPC’s latest publication, Environmental Indicators, answering key questions such as, what is the state of our environment and is it improving or getting worse. Dr. Logomasini discussed Precautionary Principle and the role that this principle plays in moving environmental policies. Finally, Mr. Holt covered the issue of drugs in the environment and the advancement of policies to regulate industry as a reaction. of Boeing moderated the “Precautionary Principle” panel.
Watch the first panel (coverage by TVW):
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View Dr. John Hill's slide presentation
View Dr. Angela Logomasini's slide presentation
View Tom Holt's slide presentation
Panel 2
The second panel, “Free-Market” Environmentalism, featured, Director, WPC’s Center for the Environment, discussing what it means to be a “Free-Market” Environmentalist. He was joined by (R) of the 7th Legislative District and Ranking Member of the House Ecology and Parks Committee. Rep. Short provided a review of environmental legislation from the 2009 Legislative Session, focusing on legislative attempts to pass a cap-and-trade bill and the Governor’s Executive order on cap-and-trade.
Watch the second panel (coverage by TVW):
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View Todd Myers eco-fad slide presentation
Following lunch, made his keynote speech Watch the video from TVW:
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View Pat Michaels Climates of Extremes slide Presentation
A Past President of the American Association of State Climatologists, will be discussing the globalwarming science they don't want you to know and his new book Climate of Extremes. Patrick Michaels is a research professor of environmental sciences at the University of Virginia, a contributing author and reviewer of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. His 
writing has been published in major scientific journals, including Climate Research, Nature, and Science.
Prior to the keynote, , Professor of Forest Economics at the University of Washington, was presented with the Environmental Innovator Award for his innovative work on forest sustainability.
Outrageous Learning Book Release Reception
Featuring the Author Scott Oki
Tuesday, June 16th
The Four Seasons Seattle
The troubles of the nation’s schools have caught the attention of
software innovator and philanthropist Scott Oki. In his thought-provoking
new book, published by Washington Policy Center,
Oki describes the ills facing public schools and coolly applies the
same frank, no-nonsense analysis which made him one of the most
successful executives at Microsoft and a recognized leader in
the technology world.
Scott spoke at the Four Seasons Seattle Hotel before a crowd of over 300 friends, supporters, community leaders, and prominent politicians to discuss his ideas for improving public education by applying some simple common sense. Oki observed that in Washington State, only 48% of all public school employees are elementary or secondary classroom teachers. Public schools are also providing transportation, food service, security, health care and janitorial services. Other countries, by contrast, are focusing resources much more efficiently on their central mission: to educate their students. Oki’s top three priorities would be to:
The question and answer session after Scott’s presentation featured a retired school teacher from Everett asking how she could help to implement these changes. Scott indicated that he is undertaking a fundraising effort to send Outrageous Learning to every educator in Washington State, and also referred her to the new Discussion Forum on the book’s website, accessible at www.outrageouslearning.org. He hopes that a "million moms" might be motivated to demand the 
policy changes offered by his book. Scott Oki and the Washington Policy Center are committed to promoting and advancing the policy changes presented in Outrageous Learning: An Education Manifesto. The successful launching of Outrageous Learning represents just the beginning of this work to improve Washington’s public school system.
Watch Liv Finne, Center for Education Director, introduce Scott Oki
Watch the video of Scott Oki introducing Outrageous Learning
Watch Scott Oki answer questions from the audience
7th Annual Health Care Conference
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
at SeaTac DoubleTree
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Steven Eastaugh of George Washington University and a Health Care Advisor to President Obama
Dr. Steven Eastaugh, from the Department of Health Services Management and Leadership at George Washington University and a Health Care Advisor to President Obama, discussed Federal Health Care Policy Reform and Health Care Economics. He is a graduate of Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard JFK School of Government, Harvard Economics Department, and has a Doctor of Science in Public Health from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
Dr. Eastaugh delivered the lunch keynote and discussed the pending federal health care reform plan. Watch his address and the audience Q&A below:
The conference included three panels covering:
State legislative review:
The conference opened with a legislative review panel featuring Reps. Eileen Cody (D-West Seattle) and Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale), as well as Steve Hill of the state Health Care Authority. KING 5's Allen Schauffler moderated the panel. Watch it below!
New trends in health care:
Experts presented the latest information on health care and new ways to deliver health care services.
• Introductions
• Medical Home
• Alternate Primary Care (Qliance)
• Evidence Based Medicine
• Wellness Programs
• Questions and Answers Part 1
• Questions and Answers Part 2
• Questions and Answers Part 3
Examined the emographics of the 45 million uninsured in this country and who they actually represent. The second portion of this panel gave an update on Health Savings Accounts.
• Introductions
• The Uninsured
• The Insured
• Questions and Answers
• Suzanne Spencer, M.D., retired, Group Health Cooperative - Medical Home
• Erika Bliss, M.D., FAAFP, Director of Medical Care, Qliance Medical Group – Direct
Primary Care Practice Model
• Rep. Doug Ericksen, Ranking Minority Member, House Health Care & Wellness
Committee
2009 Annual Legislative Wrap Up Receptions
Washington Policy Center recently hosted special receptions for our supporters and those interested in learning more about our work. These hosted events offered a wrap up of the recently completed 2009 Legislative Session, focusing on how it will affect you and your business. WPC’s board members, president and research center directors gave reviews of their recent work during this legislative session, and a preview of the top issues to look for during the remainder of this year. The events took place in Bellingham on May 12th, Tacoma on May 20th, Spokane on the 27th and Tri-Cities on the 28th.
Introduction by President Dann Mead Smith
Paul Guppy, Vice President for Research
Carl Gipson, Center for Small Business Director
Jason Mercier, Center for Government Reform Director
Roger Stark, Center for Health Care Policy Analyst
Todd Myers, Center for the Environment Director
Questions and Answers
WPC’s Earth Day event draws over two-hundred to film debut
Not Evil Just Wrong: The true cost of Global Warming Hysteria
On April 22, 2009 (Earth Day), the Washington Policy Center’s Center for the Environment hosted an audience of more than two-hundred for the debut showing of a new film “Not Evil Just Wrong: The True Cost of Global Warming Hysteria” at Rachel Carson Elementary School in Sammamish.
The film’s directors, Irish journalists Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney attended the debut of their feature length documentary, which looks at how extreme environmentalism is damaging lives of vulnerable people, from the ban on DDT to the current campaigns on global warming.
McAleer and McElhinney, introducing the film, spoke to the capacity crowd telling them, “The main reason we got into this
film is to tell the truth of the DDT story.” McElhinney continued stating, “I can’t believe how casual people can be about the death of children…and it is amazing who is casual.”
To learn more about the film “Not Evil Just Wrong”, go to www.noteeviljustwrong.com. You can watch the trailer below.
Hear Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney, the creators of Not Evil Just Wrong on The Kirby WilburShow
2009 Annual Center for Transportation Dinner
WPC’s Transportation dinner was a huge success. We heard from Dr. Samuel Staley, Urban Policy Director for Reason Foundation. Dr. Staley gave an enlightening presentation on how traffic relief can increase opportunity circles and improve business productivity, 
which is especially important in a globally competitive market. Dr. Staley also provided three broad solutions for Washington policymakers to fix traffic: manage the system more efficiently, build more capacity and redesign the transportation network.
This year we co-hosted the dinner along with the Preserving the American Dream Coalition’s annual conference featuring informative study sessions from nationally recognized experts on land use and transportation policy.
See Dr. Staley's slide presentation here
Introduction by Michael Ennis, Director of the Center for Transportation
Dr. Samuel Staley, Part 1
Dr. Samuel Staley, Part 2
Dr. Samuel Staley, Part 3
Dr. Samuel Staley, Part 4
Q and A, Part 1
Q and A, Part 2
Private Legislative Session Update Reception with WPC Research Center Directors
March 26, 2009
Washington Policy Center held a private reception with WPC board members and other key supporters on Thursday, March 26th in Bellevue. WPC’s research center directors discussed the issues being debated in Olympia as we entered the homestretch of our state’s Legislative Session. Topics included the state budget shortfall, transportation, small business issues, education and the environment. Watch the videos:
• Introduction by WPC President Dann Mead Smith
• WPC research overview by Vice President for Research Paul Guppy
• Center for Education Director Liv Finne
• Center for the Environment Director Todd Myers
• Center for Government Reform Director Jason Mercier
• Center for Small Business Director Carl Gipson
• Center for Transportation Director Michael Ennis
• Question and Answer Session
Eastside Transportation Association
March 24, 2009
Michael Ennis, Director of the Center for Transportation, discussed recent research including the negative impact of reducing VMT on state fuel tax revenues and the statewide traffic relief poll results at the Eastside Transportation Association monthly meeting.
An Evening in the Desert with
The Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Moore
March 8, 2009
Palm Springs, CA
held our third annual reception in Palm Springs. This year’s event, hosted by WPC and WPC board member Dave Maryatt, featured Stephen Moore.
Stephen Moore joined The Wall Street Journal as a member of the editorial board and senior economics writer in 2005. He focuses on economic issues, including budget, tax and monetary policy. Steve has served as a senior economist on the , as a budget expert for and as a senior economics fellow at the . Stephen is a frequent guest on , and recently co-authored with economist Arthur Laffer the book The End of Prosperity: How Higher Taxes Will Doom Our Economy – If We Let It Happen.
Watch the videos:
Introductions
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
2009 Annual Small Business Day at the Capitol
March 4, 2009
Capitol Campus
Carl Gipson, Director of the Center for Small Business, spoke at the NFIB/IBA Small Business Legislative Day on the stimulus package and the impact on small business. See the Business Examiner article here.
WPC is proud to Co-Present with CityClub's Education Series:
A Conversation with Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn
Thursday, February 26, 2009
In November, voters elected Randy Dorn for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, replacing 12 year Superintendent Terry Bergeson in a race that has become widely viewed as a directive for changes in the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). How does Dorn see his leadership style and how has he been approaching the transition? Those questions were answered by the new Superintendent at this event.
Washington Association of Health Underwriters
March 4 in Seattle and March 5, 2009 in Spokane
Dr. Roger Stark, policy analyst at the Center for Health Care, spoke in both Seattle and Spokane to the WAHU meetings on current health care issues.
WPC Annual Environmental Policy Briefing on the Capitol Campus
Tuesday, February 10, 2009,State Capitol Campus
WPC's Center for the Environment held a lunch briefing on environmental issues facing our state this upcoming legislative session. Todd Myers, director of the Center for the Environment, lead the briefing, covering:
WPC Annual Legislative Briefing Luncheon
Wednesday, February 4, 2009, State Capitol Campus
During this lunch event each center's research director gave an overview of our latest research and analysis on the key issues facing legislators this Session.
2009 Annual Small Business Day at the Capitol and Legislative Lunch
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, Idaho State capitol
Michael Ennis was the key note speaker discussing Five Principles of Responsible Transportation Policy. He also moderated a panel on transportation issues.
Reversing the Decline of Public Schools:
How Putting The Principals in Charge Helps Students Learn
On Thursday, January 22, 2009, WPC's Center for Education held its formal kick-off event in Seattle. The event 
featured Professor Bill Ouchi (pronounced "OH-chi") of the Anderson School of Management UCLA, an expert in organizational design and a pioneer in the empirical study of K-12 public school management. His book, Making Schools Work (Simon and Schuster), which examined the management of six large urban school districts, found that those districts which allowed principals to control their budgets were able to significantly raise student achievement. He is currently at work on his next book, The Secret of Total Student Load, to be published by Simon and Schuster in the fall of 2009.
This cutting-edge research reports on data collected from 446 schools in 8 decentralized school districts (Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York City, Oakland, St. Paul, San Francisco, Seattle) to show that principals able to control their budgets will reduce the Total Student Load on teachers. Of all the factors examined by this research, including class size and a dozen other factors, only reducing Total Student Load on teachers had a noticeable, large effect on student performance in every district.
See "Beware the Easy School Fix" by Jay Mathews, Washington Post, 
September 26, 2008.
Professor Ouchi's talk described the background and the implications of his research, and his experiences as consultant to Chancellor Joel Klein of the New York City Department of Education since 2002, as well as to other public school districts. Professor Ouchi also serves as a former chairman and a current board member of The Alliance, which operates 14 senior high and 2 middle charter schools in Watts and South Central Los Angeles. He served as education advisor to former California Secretary for Education Richard Riordan, and he co-chaired the "Education Summit" of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Video from the event:
Scott Oki introduces Prof. Ouchi
Professor Bill Ouchi, part 1
Professor Bill Ouchi, part 2
Professor Bill Ouchi, part 3
Professor Bill Ouchi, part 4
Professor Bill Ouchi, part 5
Professor Bill Ouchi, part 6
Question & Answer Session
Transcript of Professor Ouchi's talk
Co-sponsored Event
Students and Recent Graduates were Invited to Free Leadership School
The Federalist Leadership Center teaches leadership courses nationwide based on the federalist ideas of America's Founders and held a half-day school in Olympia for college students and young activists. The school, co-sponsored by Washington Policy Center, was conducted by Professor Donald Devine, Ronald Reagan's head of the civil service when they cut 100,000 bureaucratic jobs and saved over $6 billion reducing bloated benefits. Devine, the former CEO of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, is director of the Federalist Leadership Center and professor at Bellevue University. He is a columnist, a writer, an adjunct scholar at The Heritage Foundation, editor of ConservativeBattleline.com, a vice chairman of the American Conservative Union and a Washington-based consultant. He was a senior advisor to Ronald Reagan from 1976 to 1985, to Sen. Bob Dole from 1988-96 and to Steve Forbes from 1998-2000. Devine has written seven books and was a Republican nominee for Congress and state Comptroller in Maryland.
2008
Regional Small Business Forums Wrap up; More than 600 Gathered to Discuss Issues across Washington
Over the past several weeks Washington Policy Center has held Small Business Forums in Spokane, Tri-Cities, Bellevue, Wenatchee, Tacoma, and Vancouver. We've been holding these forums for three years and 2008 brought the most participants ever!
In Bellevue, Wells Fargo economist Dr. Eugenio Aleman talked about the federal economic bailout and its implications for small businesses. Rep. Larry Seaquist (D-Gig Harbor) and Rep. Bill Hinkle (R-Cle Elum), who both serve on the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, talked about their parties' agendas for health care reform, particularly the issue of access for small
businesses.
The Wenatchee and Tacoma forums were part of the regular gatherings for the local chambers of commerce. Carl Gipson, director of WPC's Center for Small Business, spoke about the business climate in general and the B&O tax in particular. Todd Myers, director of WPC's Center for the Environment, talked about eco-fads and how market-driven mechanisms are greening our economy and lifestyle much more effectively than government-imposed mandates. Donna Steward of the Association of Washington Business looked ahead to the upcoming legislative session and discussed the various health care reform plans lawmakers are considering.
• Carl Gipson, Center for Small Business Director give Overview of WPC & Small Business Center
• Donna Steward, Association of Washington Business talks about Potential Health Care Changes
• Michael Ennis, Center for Transportation Director discusses Transportation Policy in 2009
• Todd Myers, Center for the Environment Director on How to avoid “eco-fads”
• Questions and Answers
The Vancouver forum welcomed a packed room of area business owners and community leaders, including new WPC board member Jerry Nutter. WPC experts spoke on transportation and the environment. Gary Smith, executive director of the Independent Business Association, spoke on health care reform and gave an overview of proposed reforms from the perspective of small businesses.
• Carl Gipson, Center for Small Business Director discusses his B&O Policy Note Series
• Gary Smith, Executive Director, Independent Business Association discusses health care issues
• Michael Ennis, Center for Transportation Director discusses Transportation Policy in 2009
• Todd Myers, Center for the Environment Director on How to avoid “eco-fads”
• Questions and Answers
Special thanks to all of the statewide and local forum supporters who made these exciting and informative events possible. Input from local small business leaders helps us craft our policy recommendations that we bring to legislators every year.
Spokane and Tri-Cities Small Business Forums Draw More than 200 Leaders; Legislative Leaders Debate Health Care Reform
In Spokane, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers addressed the forum about the recent federal bailout, expressing her concerns about a number of the measure's flaws. She also praised WPC for its invaluable work on state policy issues.
, legislative leaders debated health care reform issues and access for small businesses. Sen. Karen Keieser, Chair of the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee, joined Rep. Bill Hinkle, Ranking Republican on the House Health Care & Wellness Committe, to share their goals for reform in the upcoming legislative session.
• Dann Mead Smith, WPC President and Carl Gipson, Center for Small Business Director introduces the panel
• Senator Karen Keiser, Chair, Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee
• Rep. Bill Hinkle, Ranking Member, House Health Care & Wellness Committee
• Questions and Answers with Sen. Keiser and Rep. Hinkle
• Todd Myers, Center for the Environment Director on how to avoid "Eco-fads"
• Mike Ennis, Center for Transportation discusses I-985
KNDU, the NBC TV affiliate station in Tri-Cities, covered the event and interviewed several small business owners to get their perspective on the health care challenges they face. You can read the story and watch the coverage online here.
Economic Bail-Out of 2008
Panel included:
Dr. John Lott, Senior Research Scientist, University of Maryland Foundation,
Dr. Alan Hess, Professor of Finance and Business Economics, University of Washington,
Dr. Mike Siegel, long-time Seattle talk-radio host as moderator
An Evening with Economist Stephen Moore
Stephen Moore, a member of the The Wall Street Journal editorial board and senior economics writer, spoke about the current economic situation and what the future may hold.
He splits his time between Washington and New York, focusing on economic issues, including budget, tax and monetary policy. Steve was the founder and former president for the Club for Growth, which raises money for political candidates who favor free-market policies. Over the years, Steve has served as a senior economist on the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, as the budget expert for the Heritage Foundation and as a senior economics fellow at the Cato Institute, where he published dozens of studies on federal and state tax and budget policy. He was a consultant to the National Economic Commission in 1987 and research director for President Reagan's Commission on Privatization.
Washington Policy Center Annual Dinner
Wednesday October 1, 2008
Sheraton Seattle Hotel
On October 1st, Washington Policy Center hosted it's Annual Dinner featuring 2008 Columbia Award Recipient
Vaclav Klaus,
President of the Czech Republic. 2008 Stanley O. McNaughton Champion of Freedom Award
Recipient Phil Smart, Sr. was also honored. Commenting on the 2008 election was the Executive Editor of The Weekly Standard and FOX News Commentator .
You can read President Klaus' speech online here!
Sound Transit 2: A Case of Now or Never? |
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Michael Ennis, Director of the Center for Transportation, was a featured panelist along with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, Bellevue Mayor Grant Degginger, and Dick Paylor, discussing Downtown Bellevue as a centerpiece in the Sound Transit expansion plan headed to the ballot in November. |
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Michael presented facts from 2008 Citizens' Guide to Sound Transit, Phase 2 while debating the merits of ST2 with both mayors. |
September 4 & 5, 2008
Washington Policy Center cosponsored this event with Cascadia ’s at the Microsoft Conference Center
Gorton Summer Lecture Series
Discovery Institute
Washington Policy Center co-presented a series of lectures which were hosted by Discovery Institute.
These lectures were part of the Gorton Summer Lecture Series, named for the Discovery Institute's distinguished board member and former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton. The series introduced young people to the nature and ideals of public service.
Center for Environment Annual Luncheon
July 15th, 2008
Westin Hotel -- Downtown Seattle
8:00 am - 1:30 pm
On July 15th, WPC was pleased to have acclaimed author as our keynote speaker. Mr. Lomborg’s best sellers include Cool It and The Skeptical Environmentalist. He was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2004 and one of the "50 people who could save the planet" by the UK Guardian in 2008. The Daily Telegraph called The Skeptical Environmentalist "... probably the most important book on the environment ever written." In 2004 he started the Copenhagen Consensus Center, a conference of Nobel prize winning economists who come together to prioritize the best solutions for the world's greatest challenges.
The event also feature two panels addressing Climate Change, with , Professor Emeritus, Department of Geology, Western Washington University (View his PowerPoint) and , Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington (View his PowerPoint), and Ecofads with , Professor of Political Science, Central Washington University and , President, Cascade Policy Institute speaking.
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Hear Bjørn Lomborg on Kirby & Co.
Hear Bjørn Lomborg on The Dave Ross Show
Washington State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Dann Mead Smith spoke about what the “state of the state of small businesses in Washington” means to new and minority business owners and how the WPC Small Business Center works on making our state friendlier to the small business owner.
The Dirty Dozen: How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom
The Puget Sound Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society sponsored a talk by William Mellor, co-author of the new book The Dirty Dozen: How Twelve Supreme Court Cases Radically Expanded Government and Eroded Freedom. The lunch event, co-sponsored by Washington Policy Center, took place at the Washington Athletic Club.
2008 Annual Transportation Event
On June 17th, Washington Policy Center held its Annual Center for Transportation Event. This year’s event featured a breakfast keynote address by transportation and economics expert and Senior Research Fellow with the Heritage Foundation, Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D. He addressed congestion relief and discussed ways Washington State could improve.
Listen to Dr. Ronald Utt speak with Kirby Wilbur.
Listen to Dr. Ronald Utt speak with The Commentators (John Carlson & Ken Schram).
Washington Policy Center and our board members Fred Bovenkamp and Amb. Della Newman
hosted a special evening reception for our Whatcom County supporters
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Hotel Bellwether, Bellingham
This special reception and wrap-up of the 2008 Legislative Session was for our supporters and those interested in learning more about our work. The recently completed Session was discussed, with a focus on how it will affect you and your business. WPC’s president and research center directors gave reviews of their work during Session, including publications on the state budget, taxes, health care, transportation, the environment and ways to improve the business climate. They also presented the top issues to look for during the remainder of this busy election year and previewed their new Policy Guide for Washington state.
The Coming Crisis in Citizenship
On May 20th Washington Policy Center, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), and the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs hosted a free evening event.
Featured speakers included:
• , professor of Political Science at Central Washington University and Washington Policy Center advisory board member
• , Director of University Stewardship & the Culture of Enterprise Initiative at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute
• , Professor, History Department, University of Washington
• d, Dean of the University of Washington Evans School of Public Affairs will introduce the event
Panelists discussed the importance of civics education in light of a recent ISI civic literacy report, Failing Our Students, Failing America: Holding Colleges Accountable for Teaching America’s History and Institutions, showing many students lack even basic knowledge of our government and how it works.
6th Annual health care conference
Grace-Marie Turner of the Galen Institute was this years keynote speaker. She is a member of the National Advisory Council of Healthcare Research and Quality and recently served as a member of the President’s Medicaid Commission, charged with making recommendations to modernize and improve Medicaid. Grace-Marie discussed the presidential candidates’ health care plans.
Government Reform 2008: Making Government Work for Taxpayers
Washington Policy Center and its new Center for Government Reform hosted an interactive conference on how to make government work best for taxpayers. Former U.S. Comptroller David Walker of the Government Accountability Office was the keynote lunch speaker.
Special evening reception for our Pierce County area supporters
Washington Policy Center (WPC) along with our board member Len Zarelli, hosted a special reception and wrap-up of the 2008 Legislative Session for our supporters and those interested in learning more about our work. The event included discusions about the recently completed Session, focusing on how it will affect you and your business. WPC’s president and research center directors gave reviews of their work during Session, including publications on the state budget, taxes, health care, transportation, the environment and ways to improve the business climate. They also offered a preview of the top issues to look for during the remainder of this busy election year.
An Evening in the Desert with Dinesh D'Souza
This year’s Evening in the Desert, hosted by board member David Maryatt and his wife Sally,featured Dinesh D’Souza. D’Souza, named one of the “top young public-policy makers in the country” by Investor’s Business Daily and one of America’s most influential conservative thinkers by New York Times Magazine, is a prolific author and former policy advisor to President Reagan. He is the author of the bestselling book What’s So Great about America and Letters to a Young Conservative.
"The Call of the Entrepreneur" Film Screening and Small Business Briefing
WPC's Center for Small Business screened the film "Call of the Entrepreneur," which follows the varied experiences of three entrepreneurs: a failing dairy farmer in rural Evart, Michigan, a merchant banker in New York City, and a refugee from Communist China. The film examines the unique role the entrepreneur plays in American society and the challenges they face. You can learn more about the film here.
The evening event featured a briefing on small business issues from Carl Gipson, director for small business at WPC, and WPC president Dann Mead Smith.
This free event was offered in cooperation with Greater Spokane Incorporated, and will be held at the Red Lion Hotel and Inn at the Park from 5:30 - 7:00pm on January 23, 2008.
2007
2007 Statewide Small Business Conference a Success
Small-business owners and policymakers gathered at the SeaTac Hilton on Thursday, November 8, to discuss important issues facing small businesses. In addition to interactive breakout sessions, attendees heard from Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna and Freakonomics co-author Stephen Dubner.
Voting results from the breakout sessions on transportation, access to affordable health care, tax reform, paid family leave, streamlined sales tax, eminent domain and property rights, workers' compensation and unemployment insurance, and high-tech / data security, are available here.
Annual Northwest Environmental Summit Featured WPC's Todd Myers Discussing Climate Change
Washington Policy Center participated in and co-sponsored this year's Annual Northwest Environmental Summit on October 17th and 18th at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center.
Todd Myers, director of WPC's Center for Environmental Policy, spoke on "Climate Change Challenges & Responses."
Gordon Campbell, British Columbia's 34th Prime Minister, keynoted the summit. Campbell won the election in 2001 with the largest majority in B.C. history. His re-election in 2005 made him just the 5th premier to be elected to two consecutive terms. Coming into office, Premier Campbell focused on revitalizing the B.C. economy.
2007 Annual Dinner Welcomed More Than 1,000 People
This year's Annual Dinner was a tremendous success, and Washington Policy Center's largest ever. More than 1,000 people filled the Grand Ballroom of the Seattle Westin as WPC honored former Florida Governor Jeb Bush with the 2007 Columbia Award and Bruce R. McCaw with the 2007 Stanley O. McNaughton Champion of Freedom Award. Attendees included some of the state's top policymakers, business and community leaders. Susan Hutchison was the evening's Master of Ceremonies.
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“I commend Washington Policy Center for its efforts to promote free market solutions to the challenges facing the state of Washington and our country. From health care, to education, to the environment and a lot, lot more, the Center is making a difference.” |
Read the Annual Dinner Transcripts here.
Click here to watch it online.
Download the audio of the Annual Dinner from TVW here.
On September 20th, Dinesh D'Souza addressed a large group of WPC supporters in Spokane on Whitworth University's campus. A video of his talk is available here. A former policy advisor to President Ronald Reagan and a prolific author, D'Souza spoke about the challenges facing the U.S. in this age.
Environmental Lunch Speakers Shed Light On a Different Side of the Environmental Movement
WPC's Center for Environmental Policy held its 5th Annual Luncheon yesterday at the Seattle Red Lion with over 140 people in attendance. This year the Center welcomed Irish filmmakers Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney, Producer and Directors of the documentary "Mine Your Own Business."
Both speakers gave an excellent first-hand account of the environmental movement's impact on efforts to create economic development in impoverished communities. The film examined proposed mining projects in Romania, Madagascar and Chile and the ways that they would not only help alleviate endemic poverty in those areas but would actually repair environmental damage born of a legacy of poverty. McAleer and McElhinney enlightened the audience with images of people living in poverty and their desire for development to gain employment so they can send their children to school and provide them with proper food. They contrasted their struggles with the efforts of wealthy, absentee environmental activists' views of what they felt was a "quaint" lifestyle.
The lunch also featured the presentation of WPC's Annual Environmental Innovator award. The Award was presented to the Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) and its President Gene Duvernoy by Todd
Myers. Perhaps no other organization in Washington can boast a more diverse base of support, from environmental activists to family foresters. The Cascade Land Conservancy is a regional leader in developing approaches to the challenges of growth that preserve forests and open space, while respecting property rights and making use of market incentives. CLC has pioneered a number of approaches that raise funds to purchase development rights at market rates, earning the funding through responsible development and timber harvesting.
"Thank you very much for this award. This really means a lot to the Cascade Land Conservancy. It means we are starting to get it right." – Gene Duvernoy upon receving the award on July 19th
In addition to speaking at this year's CEP lunch, Phelim McAleer also wrote an opinion editorial for the event. His op-ed describes how in doing research for the documentary, "Mine Your Own Business," he uncovered a dark side to the environmental movement which has made him rethink his faith in the green movement.
Watch the luncheon here.
Read the press release on Environmental Innovator Award recipient Cascade Land Conservancy here.
WPC's Center for Transportation Policy Kick Off Lunch Video Available Online
WPC's Center for Transportation Policy hosted its kick-off lunch on Monday, June 25th, featuring former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and welcomed over 160 attendees. Attendees heard from both Center Director Michael Ennis and Mineta with the opportunity of asking questions at the end of the program. Prior to the lunch, WPC hosted a group of Washington's transportation leaders at a roundtable event to discuss ideas on relieving congestion.
Watch the lunch online here.
WPC’s Center for Health Care Reform sponsored its 5th Annual Health Care Conference on June 14th. The conference was attended by over 260 of Washington's top business owners, legislators, agency and legislative staff, patients, doctors and industry representatives.
The Conference welcomed lunch keynote speaker Dr. David Gratzer, a physician and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute who has practiced medicine in both the United States and Canada. Gratzer enlightened the audience by showing how the health care industry has really only taken off in the last century with medical breakthroughs and insurance and what can be done to reform the system. Dr. Gratzer’s most recent book “The Cure: How Capitalism Can Save American Health Care,” has received praise from some of the nation's top newspapers including The New York Times, The Washington Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.
Along with an excellent lunch keynote the Conference featured a legislative briefing from three of our state's
policymakers as well as interactive panels that encouraged audience interaction and participation. Moderated by KING 5's Robert Mak, the legislative briefing featured Rep. Eileen Cody, Chair of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, Rep. Bill Hinkle, Ranking Member of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee and Jonathan Seib, Executive Policy Advisor in Governor Gregoire’s Office. The audience saw all sides of the current health care debate in Washington and had an opportunity to ask questions of the policymakers. The other three panels included Public Opinion on Health Care featuring interactive polling by Stuart Elway, New Directions in Health Care that looked at trends such as convenient care clinics and consumer-driven health care, and a Medicaid Reform panel that discussed recent reform in Florida and innovative ways to control Medicaid costs.
Video of all the panels and the keynote speaker is available online.
- Panel #1: Legislative Briefing
- Panel #2: Public Opinion on Health Care
- Panel #3: New Directions in Health Care
- Panel #4: Medicaid Reform
- Lunch Keynote Speaker Dr. David Gratzer
2006
U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Pat Herbold Welcomed as Featured Speaker at Special WPC Seattle Luncheon Event
Washington Policy Center welcomed former board member Partricia Herbold back to Seattle for her first event as U.S. Ambassador to Singapore. The lunch welcomed over 130 attendees from around Washington including the Consul General of Japan, Kazuo Tanaka. Amb. Herbold spoke about her experiences in Singapore and how far the country has come since its independence in the 1960's. She also discussed how the United States benefits by its relations with Singapore in terms of trade. Singapore can be seen as a model in terms of leadership, free-economy and preparedness. For example, Singapore would be one of the, if not the most, prepared country if ever there was an influenza outbreak. Special thanks to all of our co-sponsors and TVW for attending and taping the event. Audio of the event is available online here.
Federalist Leadership Center Luncheon Featuring FOX News Commentator Robert Novak in Seattle
Federalist Leadership Center of Bellevue University and Washington Policy Center hosted a special luncheon featuring syndicated writer and television commentator Robert Novak. Novak shared with us and the students at our Seattle Leadership School the relevance of the Founders' Federalist principles to events in today's Washington, D.C., a city he has covered as a working journalist for over 50 years. There was also an opportunity to learn about the work of Professor Donald Devine, a member of President Reagan's cabinet, and the exciting effort he is leading at the Federalist Leadership Center. Their mission is to teach America's future civic leaders the importance of philosophical understanding, specifically the Federalist thinking of America's founders, who is essential to the formation of true leadership.
Our 2006 Annual Dinner welcomed Pulitzer Prize winning author and journalist George Will as our featured speaker and Columbia Award recipient.
The Dinner also featured Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas. Huckabee is recognized as a national leader in the areas of education and health care reform. He also served as chairman of the National Governors Association and is the author of "Quit Digging Your Grave With A Knife And Fork," released by Time Warner Book Group in May. Our 2006 McNaughton Award recipient was Charles "Chuck" Pigott, retired CEO of PACCAR. Pigott also is the former President of the Boy Scouts of America (1986-1988) and former board member of The Boeing Company.
Washington Policy Center's Center for Environmental Policy hosted its 4th Annual Luncheon on July 25, 2006. The lunch featured guest speaker Dr. Patrick Moore, a founding member and longtime leader of Greenpeace. He discussed his departure from the current environmentalist movement to the idea of sustainable development and the need to consider social and economic issues along with environmental concerns. A full Policy Note on this year's CEP luncheon will be available soon. Video of the lunch will also be available for viewing this week on our website.
Listen to the full conference online here.
WPC launched its Center for Small Business & Entrepreneurship on Thursday, June 22nd, 2006 at a luncheon in Seattle. The event marked the official transition of WPC's part-time Small Business Project into a full-time research center with dedicated funds and staff. The Small Business Project has been conducting research and analysis on issues facing small business owners since 2001.
The lunch featured C.J. Buck, President and CEO of Buck Knives. Mr. Buck discussed his reasoning for moving his business from California to Idaho rather then Washington. Although initially considered, Washington state was ruled out early due to an unfriendly business climate closely resembling that of California. "Idaho provided a better legislative climate," said Mr. Buck.
Conference Highlights are now available for viewing! To watch keynote speaker Nina Owcharenko click here!
WPC held its 4th Annual Health Care Conference, "Moving Health Care Forward: Tools and Techniques for a Healthier Washington," last Tuesday. The Conference was attended by over 250 people including business owners, legislators, agency and legislative staff, patients, doctors, and industry representatives. Debates on long-standing and newer health care issues invoked frustrations and an eagerness for action among attendees and participants. Some fundamental issues brought up included reforming Medicaid, promoting consumer driven health care like HSAs, deregulating the health insurance market, examining parts of Massachusetts' Health Plan, promoting patient focused care, and consumer access to health care cost and quality information.
The Conference also introduced two new WPC publications including a revised version of "The Pocket Guide to Health Savings Accounts," and a Policy Note "What Washington Can Learn from Massachusetts Health Care Reform." The Policy Note is available online.
Watch the full health care conference on tvw.org here.
2005
SeaTac—Small business owners, legislators and policymakers gathered for the 2005 Statewide Small Business Conference at the SeaTac Hilton to discuss Washington state’s business climate. Governor Gregoire gave the keynote lunch address and laid out her plan to forgo the planned 3.8% workers' compensation increase for January 2006.
"We applaud the Governor's announcement to ease the burden on small businesses," said Washington Policy Center president Dann Mead Smith. "By listening to small business owners and not implementing the planned 3.8% workers' compensation increase will save small businesses millions of dollars. It will not, however, fix the system, as small business owners pointed out today at our Conference."
During several breakout sessions covering issues such as employer regulations, workers’ compensation, transportation, tax reform and health care, business owners were able to suggest solutions that would bring about a better business climate.
See Thursday's breakout session voting results online.
See Eastern Washington's breakout session voting results online.
To watch the Conference Legislative Session click here.
To watch Gov. Gregoire's Keynote Lunch Address click here.
To watch the Conference State Agency Head Panel.
To read the Seattle-PI coverage of the conference click here.
One of the year's most popular events honored former Georgia Governor and Senator Zell Miller and recently retired Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn yesterday, September 27th at the Westin Hotel in Seattle. Past award recipients and speakers have included Rudy Giuliani, Karen Hughes, P.J. O'Rourke, and Colorado Governor Bill Owens.
