In the Media
One week into the Legislature’s special session needed to close a $2 billion budget gap, state lawmakers are talking about tax increases as part of their solutions.
But don’t hold your breath: Tax talk is still a cheap form of entertainment at the Capitol. Majority Democrats are weeks away from agreeing on a tax plan they could send to voters for approval in March or April.
After cutting $10 billion over the past three years, including trimming higher education spending by half, slicing health care programs and streamlining state agencies, lawmakers and the 6.7 million residents of Washington State have been rewarded for their sacrifices with more bad news: The state has another enormous budget deficit.
“I can’t take it anymore,” said Gov. Christine Gregoire, a Democrat. “I sure hope that’s where the people of the State of Washington are.”
So now, facing a budget gap of nearly $2 billion and more bleak revenue forecasts, Ms. Gregoire and some Democratic leaders say they will seek the same solution they have in the past: To raise taxes.
Western Washington University is launching a new statewide recognition campaign called Washington Companies to Watch to honor outstanding second-stage businesses.
Washington is the seventh state to become associated with the national venture created several years ago by the Edward Lowe Foundation in Michigan. The awards program is designed to publicize, encourage and inspire winning companies. The foundation already works with businesses in Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Indiana and Colorado.
Tom Dorr, director of Western Washington University’s Center for Economic Vitality in Bellingham, believes the watch list should promote and attract community support for second-stage companies that show high performance in the marketplace, an outstanding focus on innovative products or processes, and an overall growth record worth watching.
Western Washington University in Bellingham has finished a $51.1 million renovation of Miller Hall.
Western Washington University’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program is looking for volunteers in time for the upcoming tax season.
Bryan Rohde with Western’s Beta Alpha Psi chapter says they’re looking for about 10 to 20 more volunteers from the community within the month.
But at a time when everyone and their barista has zeroed in on income inequality as a problem, it is worth reiterating one of the solutions: education. As much of it as one can get.
If you feel like you're getting poorer — and for many middle-class families — the best, most lasting solution is not a handout but a notebook. New skills increase the likelihood of better jobs.
University of Washington student leaders are calling Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposal to increase the sales tax by a half-penny a good short-term solution.
It's too early to tell when this technology might exist, but thanks to a $2 million grant to the University of Washington, it may not be too far off.
Only one-tenth of 1 percent of college entrants, and only three-tenths of 1 percent of bachelor’s degree recipients, accumulate more than $100,000 in undergraduate student debt. If you have more than $75,000 in undergraduate debt, you are the 1 percent – just not the 1 percent you might have been hoping for.
Whatcom County business and government leaders should welcome any environmentally friendly sources of new jobs, rather than rely on narrowly focused strategies based on buzzwords instead of economic realities.
So says Hart Hodges, director of the Center for Economic and Business Research at Western Washington University.