Does Washington need a “climate change” for manufacturers?
Washington manufacturers currently make up roughly nine percent of the state’s workforce. This represents a three percent drop since 2000, according to a new report by the Economic Revenue Forecast...
View ArticleLawmakers look back to the future for rural broadband access in Washington state
State lawmakers are renewing the push for greater rural broadband access in Washington communities. Proponents of a Senate bill introduced during this year’s session are pushing it again in the hopes...
View ArticleCamas mill closure the “canary in the coal mine”?
An Atlanta-based pulp and paper company announced this week its plans to close a Southwest Washington pulp mill that has operated since before Washington’s statehood. The news seemed ironically timed,...
View ArticleWashington high court still unsatisfied with education spending
When asked how much money is enough, industrialist John Rockefeller replied: “Just a little bit more.” That seemed to be the Washington State Supreme Court’s attitude in its November 15 ruling in which...
View ArticleKing County court smacks down Seattle income tax
If the city of Seattle’s message to residents was “you can leave if you don’t like our income tax,” King County Superior Court perhaps had a message of its own for the city: If you don’t like the ban...
View ArticleMore GMA fine-tuning needed for rural counties, say lawmakers
As Washington continues to grow, rural counties throughout the state are struggling to attract new businesses and jobs for their residents. Some state and local lawmakers much of the difficulty is due...
View ArticleStudy findings may discourage legislators’ budget tinkering
Washington benefits from one of the more stable revenue streams in the nation, and the best among the West Coast states. That’s according to a new study by the Tax Policy Center that examined all 50...
View ArticlePreparing Washington for air cargo’s big takeoff
Air freight is a popular form of transport for Washington producers exporting their products overseas to the Asia market. The state’s primary gateway for exports is Sea-Tac International Airport; in...
View ArticleNearly half a billion spent fighting Washington wildfires since 2010
Between 2010-2016, the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Office of the State Fire Marshall spent nearly half a billion responding to 11,000 fire incidents and 93 mobilizations in 20...
View ArticleWashington high court adds doubt to Seattle income tax appeal
A Washington State Supreme Court ruling issued Thursday may have just added yet another hurdle for any possible appeal by the city of Seattle for its income tax. The 7-2 decision struck down a 2015...
View ArticleLawmakers: Regional growth plans must acknowledge reality
As the central Puget Sound region continues to struggle with explosive growth, some state lawmakers say certain provisions in the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA) are in dire need of updating....
View ArticleRevitalizing Washington’s manufacturing industry with tax cut
During last year’s legislative session, the longest in state history, lawmakers approved a 2017-19 operating budget that included a reduced gross receipts tax, or business and occupation (B&O) tax,...
View ArticleLens LegiTrack Update: January 19, 2018
Hirst Fix Legislation SB 6091 (Van De Wege) would address negative effects stemming from the 2016 Supreme Court Hirst decision. Under the measure, well owners would be able to use up to 400 gallons of...
View ArticleNo new taxes in Senate budget proposal
The state legislative session is likely to end on exactly the opposite note as last year’s: on time and without new taxes. That is the message coming from key ranking members of a Senate fiscal...
View ArticleLens LegiTrack Update: February 23, 2018
Harbor maintenance tax reform SJM 8008 (Chase) would ask Congress to reform the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) to ensure that U.S. ports are not competitively disadvantaged or losing market share to...
View ArticleGovernor proposes “opportunities zones” to boost development
Governor Jay Inslee has named seven Clark County communities “opportunity zones” providing tax breaks for developers working on projects inside those areas. Read more here. The post Governor proposes...
View ArticleLens Video: Washington prepares for wildfire season
Lens was on site at a controlled burn May 16 outside of Yakima as part of the state Department of Natural Resources’ interagency wildfire training academy. Read the full story here. The post Lens...
View ArticleBusiness offers “crash course” for truck drivers
Fox News reports that a business called 160 Driving Academy is working to fill the 51,000 available jobs this year in the trucking industry. The business first opened in 2012 but has grown as the...
View Article
More Pages to Explore .....