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.
What's New
Gregoire's budget helps create deficits she predicts
Seattle - Governor Gregoire announced her plans for Washington State's spending budget for 2006, and many citizens will wonder where the $1.4 billion budget surplus went. For the first time in many years the state has a budget surplus as the 2006 Legislative Session approaches in January, but Gregoire's spending plans will continue to leave a larger hole for next year's budgeting process.
Why a Windfall Profits Tax Is, and Always Has Been, a Dumb Idea
Paul Guppy, Vice President for Research
, December, 2005The windfall profits tax is again stalking the halls of Congress. For anyone over 40, the phrase will have a familiar ring. This idea was first enacted during the waning days of the Carter Administration as a way of zinging oil companies who were supposedly benefiting improperly from rising world oil prices.
2005 Small Business Conference
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.
Small Business Conference Policy Overview
Carl Gipson, Director, Center for Small Business
, November, 2005Starting and running a successful business is tough. Yet, despite obstacles, thousands of ambitious Washington entrepreneurs start new businesses every year. As a result, our state boasts one of the highest business start-up rates in the nation. Small businesses in our state fuel the economy by providing a majority of the jobs and much of the product innovations that make our lives better and our economy more productive.
Guide to Initiative 900
John Barnes, Policy Analyst
, October, 2005Writer Victor Hugo once said that nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come. Though he spoke in another time and place, his words ring true now in Washington state.
Performance Audits Seek to Improve How Government Spends Our Money
John Barnes, Policy Analyst
, October, 2005Writer Victor Hugo once said that nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come. Though he spoke in another time and another place, his words ring true now in Washington state.
Guide to Initiative 900: Reviewing Government through Performance Audits
Seattle - Washington Policy Center released a new study, Guide to Initiative 900: Reviewing Government through Performance Audits. Policy analyst John Barnes presents a study on Initiative 900, which will appear on the November ballot.
This publication is the final installment in the Center's studies of all 2005 statewide initiatives, and looks closely at Initiative 900 as well as the audit plans passed by the Legislature in HB 1064 and SB 6103 during the 2005 Session.
Guide to Initiative 900: Reviewing Government through Performance Audits
John Barnes, Policy Analyst
, October, 2005Writer Victor Hugo once said that nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come. Though he spoke in another time and another place, his words ring true now in Washington state.
During the 2005 Session, the legislature passed HB 1064, authorizing performance audits of state government. The same day the 2005 Session convened, Tim Eyman filed the text of Initiative 900, which would enact performance audits of state and local governments.
Gregoire Appoints WPC President Dann Mead Smith to Performance Audits Citizen Advisory Board
President Dann Mead Smith of Washington Policy Center was appointed as one of five citizen members for the Washington state Performance Audit Citizen Advisory board.
The ten members of the advisory board will be responsible for ensuring newly authorized performance audits are consistent with the state services citizens care most about and that they result in savings for taxpayers. The board will be overseeing work plans based on opinions from citizens, state employees and managers, the Legislature and other public officials.
Initiative 912 Fuels Debate Over New Gas Tax
John Barnes, Policy Analyst
, July, 2005This election Washington citizens will vote on Initiative 912, a proposal to repeal the new 9.5 cent gas tax recently passed by the legislature. This Policy Note briefly describes the Initiative and summarizes the main arguments for and against it.