Business Climate

WPC's Center for Small Business focuses on improving Washington's small business climate by working closely with business owners and policymakers. The Center provides accurate information and analysis on the state's regulatory climate, tax structure, health insurance systems, and more.

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Business Climate Blog

Paul Krugman: There is “No Correlation” Between Regulations and Jobs

April 12, 2013 in Blog

Earlier this week liberal economist Paul Krugman declared there is “no correlation” between government regulations and job creation.   When pressed on the issue and encouraged to ask actual business owners how government regulations impact them, Krugman dismissed such claims, saying, “I have talked to them [business owners], that's not what they say.”

PubliCola takes umbrage at Washington Policy Center over union’s sub-minimum wage

April 4, 2013 in Blog

Erica C. Barnett over at PubliCola takes umbrage at my pointing out that the national AFL-CIO wants to pay its interns less than Washington’s minimum wage, calling my comments “feigned outrage.”

Union pays less than minimum wage

April 3, 2013 in Blog

Although many Democrats and Republicans support Rep. Gary Condotta’s training wage bill (HB 1150) our state’s powerful unions strongly oppose giving young workers access to job opportunities through a temporary training wage.

Senate work session focuses on WPC B&O reform proposal

March 28, 2013 in Blog

Business taxes took center stage today in Olympia. While the morning started with a work session in the Senate Trade and Economic Development Committee on how to reform the state's hated Business & Occupation Tax (B&O), the afternoon began with Governor Inslee's attempt to re-define what a tax increase is.

Subway Founder Says He Could Not Grow a Successful Business in Today's Environment

March 20, 2013 in Blog

When people who want more government regulations argue in favor of a new mandate on employers, one of the most used arguments the new rule won’t break the bank.  Taken in isolation, that is often true.  However, as Washington Policy Center has pointed out to lawmakers, these seemingly harmless regulations have a cumulative effect that eventually become so burdensome they cripple employers and prevent entrepreneurs from creating th

State Commission Tasked with Job Growth Says Regulations are “Overly Burdensome”

March 15, 2013 in Blog

Yesterday I participated in a press conference held by Senators Holmquist Newbry, Braun, Brown and Representative Manweller to highlight the pro business bills passed by the Senate that now await House approval.

When It Comes to Costs on Business, Some Lawmakers Aren’t Interested in the Big Picture

March 4, 2013 in Blog

On February 22 I was asked to testify before the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee on SB 5292 (companion bill is HB 1457), a bill that would significantly expand the paid family leave law that was passed in 2007 but never implemented because a funding source was never agreed upon.

Tax preference review bill introduced

February 20, 2013 in Blog

A bipartisan bill to ensure tax preferences identify legislative intent and have performance metrics was introduced today by Senators Tom, Billig, Hill, Hobbs and Murray. Here is the intent section for SB 5843:

Tax increases explained by the beer glass full

February 15, 2013 in Blog

While sitting parched in the Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing yesterday on various tax increase bills, I was very enticed, intrigued rather, by the testimony of Steve Gano representing Miller Coors explaining the impact of extending the "temporary" and expiring beer taxes as proposed SB 5039.