Open Government

WPC's Center for Government Reform's mission is to partner with stakeholders and citizens to work toward a government focused on its core functions while improving its transparency, accountability, performance, and effectiveness for taxpayers.

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What's New

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.

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.

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).

WPC’s Recommendations on the State’s 2012 Transportation Tax Package, Part II

Jan. 30, 2012 in Publications
By

Michael Ennis, Director, Center for Transportation

, January 2012

This is part two of a five-part series of Legislative Memos that Washington Policy Center offers for lawmakers to consider before preparing a statewide transportation tax increase in 2012. The five recommendations are:

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:

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."

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:

The Infamous B&O Tax

Seattle Business Magazine January 24, 2012 in In the News
Source: 
Seattle Business Magazine
Date: 
February 1, 2012
Link: 
http://www.seattlebusinessmag.com/article/tax-avoidance