Business Climate Publications

Title	Author	Publication Date	Summary
Seattle's Business Taxes Are a Competitiveness Issue	WRC	Dec 10, 2007 12:00 AM	The increasing suburbanization of employment presents a fiscal challenge to the City of Seattle. The City gets more than one half of its general tax revenue fro...
Referendum 67 Would Allow Punitive Damages in Insurance Lawsuits	WRC	Oct 22, 2007 12:00 AM	In November, Washington voters will decide whether to approve or reject R-67, a referendum on legislation that would allow policy holders to sue their insurance...
Recent Fiscal Trends for the City of Seattle	WRC	Oct 10, 2007 12:00 AM	Right now the city is enjoying a boom. If the past is any guide, a bust will surely follow. Restraint today, will reduce the need for more painful cuts when th...
Two New Reports on Business Taxes	WRC	Mar 09, 2007 12:00 AM	Two reports came out this month that illuminate the unique tax structure faced by Washington businesses. These two reports are must reads for anyone interested ...
Connecting with Health Care	WRC	Feb 26, 2007 12:00 AM	This policy brief reviews the original intent of "the connector"--a state-chartered health insurance marketplace--discusses the primary areas of concern with th...
Why Homes in Washington Cost Too Much	WRC	Nov 29, 2006 12:00 AM	Prices are high because government limits the number of permissions to build.
I-933: Regulating Regulatory Takings	WRC	Oct 10, 2006 12:00 AM	"The Property Fairness Initiative"
Vashon to Vote on PUD	WRC	Oct 03, 2006 12:00 AM	A proposal to create a Puublic Utility District will be on the November ballot.
Initiative 937: Tilting Towards Windmills	WRC	Aug 29, 2006 12:00 AM	I-937 will be on the november ballot,
Infrastructure in Washington: Letting Growth Pay for Growth	WRC	Mar 21, 2006 12:00 AM	This brief discusses policy changes and specific revenue mechanisms that could create additional funding for the infrastructure needed to support the growth tha...
Diagnosing Health Care Spending Growth	WRC	Jan 20, 2006 12:00 AM	This brief documents the role of various services in the overall growth of health care spending.
Initiatives 330 and 336	WRC	Oct 17, 2005 12:00 AM	By capping noneconomic damages and encouraging mediation and arbitration in place of litigation, I-330 should modestly restrain the cost of malpractice insuranc...
Pay or Play: Yes It's a Threat	WRC	Mar 16, 2005 12:00 AM	Under a pay or play scheme, those businesses that did not provide employees a rich plate of health care benefits would be taxed to support the state’s basic h...
Pay or Play: Yes, It’s a Threat	WRC	Mar 15, 2005 12:00 AM	The pay or play system of health insurance would impose a substantial payroll tax on some state businesses, raising their costs and hurting the overall competit...
Into the Pool Again, After the Money's Gone	WRC	Feb 14, 2005 12:00 AM	A proposal by the Insurance Commissioner to form a billion dollar reinsurance enterprise is before the legislature as House Bill 1910 and Senate Bill 5861. All ...
The Bad News Is The Good News Is Wrong	WRC	Nov 04, 2003 12:00 AM	Two recent national studies of state business tax climates fixate on income taxes and miss much of the real story.
A Good Index is Hard to Find	WRC	Nov 04, 2003 12:00 AM	Two recent national studies of state business tax climates fixate on income taxes and miss much of the real story.
The Bill for Boeing	WRC	Jun 23, 2003 12:00 AM	Washington State constantly competes with other states for jobs and businesses. The current battle for the 7E7 assembly plant is unique only in its size and vis...
Property Rights and the Growth Management Act	WRC	Dec 17, 2002 12:00 AM	Strong property rights are a key prerequisite for economic development in a market economy. Businesses only invest where the expected rate of return is suffic...
CLOSING THE BUDGET GAP IS NOW A MAJOR COMPETITIVENESS CHALLENGE	WRC	Sep 18, 2002 12:00 AM	Having finessed the 2002 supplemental budget shortfall, using a combination of one-time fiscal stratagems and substantive program reductions, those lawmakers re...