On December 2 at 6 p.m. the official "Holiday Kids' Tree" lighting ceremony will be held in the Capitol Rotunda. Here is a short video of that massive tree being put in place. A tree that big is going to need lots of presents under it but lawmakers don't need nick-nacks to open but instead good policy recommendations. Before we open any policy presents though, here is a session-themed take on an old favorite: 

Twas the month before session, when all through the state
Not a creature was stirring, not even a lobbyist.

The pre-file bills were hung by the hopper with care,
In hopes that a bill signing soon would be there.

The lawmakers were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of on-time Sine Die danced in their heads . . .

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a Policy Guide for Washington State, and eight policy experts to help lead the way.

To help fill the space beneath the state's tree, here are 60 policy presents for lawmakers from the ten chapters of our latest Policy Guide (some adult assembly may be required):

Chapter 1: Responsible Public Spending   

• Adopt improved budget transparency
• Place performance measures in the budget
• Adopt budget reforms to end government shutdowns
• Restore legislative oversight of collective bargaining
• End secret negotiations over pay and benefits
• Restore the people’s right to referendum
• Provide more information on ballot measures

Chapter 2: Reforming Taxation  

• Make taxes more fair by enacting tax relief
• Require a supermajority vote to raise taxes
• Do not impose a state income tax
• Stop unfair retroactive tax increases
• Do not impose a capital gains income tax
• Create a tax transparency website

Chapter 3: Protecting the Environment  

• Uberize protection of the environment
• Move beyond fail-and-blame in energy policy
• Help honeybees by focusing on real science
• Avoid “buy local” mandates
• Protect the Snake River dams
• End energy-wasting “green” building rules
• Reduce red tape and politics in salmon recovery

Chapter 4: Improving Health Care Coverage  

• Repeal the Affordable Care Act and allow choice
• End government-operated exchanges
• Make coverage more affordable
• Reduce costs through tort reform
• Encourage innovation in health services
• Enact meaningful Medicare reform
• Reform and modernize Medicaid entitlements

Chapter 5: Improving Public Schools   

• Expand family access to charter schools
• Expand access to choice in education
• Allow state-funded Education Savings Accounts
• Adopt “fund the child” budgeting
• Shift from funding staff to funding children’s needs
• End the Prototypical School Model
• Repeal life-time tenure and certification rules

Chapter 6: Open and Accountable Government  

• Make remote testimony for citizens permanent
• Improve public notice and ban title-only bills
• Make the legislature subject to the Public Records Act
• Require two-thirds vote to change voter initiatives
• Reduce the number of statewide elected offices
• Allow election of supreme court justices by district

Chapter 7: Creating Jobs and Protecting Worker Rights  

• Replace the B&O tax with a Single Business Tax
• Protect workers with a right-to-work law
• Adopt uniformity in workplace regulations
• Legalize private workers’ compensation insurance  
• End age discrimination in injured-worker payments

Chapter 8: Expanding Business Opportunities and Employment  

• Help family businesses by repealing the estate tax
• Avoid a job-killing high minimum wage
• Avoid imposing mandatory paid leave laws
• Reduce the regulatory burden
• Repeal outdated regulations

Chapter 9: Improving Mobility and Transportation Services  

• Tie public spending to traffic congestion relief
• Spend transportation dollars the way the public wants
• Expand the use of public-private partnerships
• Improve Sound Transit accountability and governance
• Spend highway tolls to support highways
• Reduce the cost of building roads and ferries

Chapter 10: Improving Agriculture  

• Base agricultural regulations on enacted law
• Do not impose caps on food production
• Maintain public access to Washington ports
• Consider needs of agriculture equally with other sectors

As for our letter to Santa, how about we all ask for the same thing - no special sessions in 2017!