http://www.researchcouncil.org daily 1 2007-01-03T05:04:39Z http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/Simple%20Majority.pdf In November, Washington voters will decide whether to approve or reject EHJR 4202, a constitutional amendment that would allow property tax levies for public school operations to pass by simple majority. No publisher ksjoblom 2007-10-08T15:47:56Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/Rainy%20Day%20in%20November.pdf In November, Washington voters will decide whether to approve or reject SJR 8206, a constitutional amendment that would establish a "rainy day fund." No publisher ksjoblom 2007-10-08T15:52:06Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/Rainy%20Day%20Fund%20Final.pdf The senate recently forwarded to the house a proposed constitutional amendment to create a “rainy day fund." If approved by the house and by voters in November, the state would set aside 1 percent of general state revenues each year to be saved for use in the event of a recession. The fund would alleviate some of the strain put on government resources during a recession and help avoid tax increases. No publisher ksjoblom 2007-03-01T19:02:24Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/vashon_pud_brief_ii.pdf A proposal to create a Puublic Utility District will be on the November ballot. No publisher ksjoblom 2007-02-03T20:00:08Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/HCPayPlayBrief.pdf 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 competitiveness of the state’s economy. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T16:20:19Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/Infrastructure%20Part%204.pdf This is the fourth policy brief in a four-part Research Council series on Washington State’s infrastructure needs. No publisher npsadmin 2007-02-03T21:22:10Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/report081203.pdf The Corps of Engineers calculates that breaching the four lower Snake River dams would cost the economy an average of nearly $300 million per year over 100 years. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T20:13:16Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/Collectiveb031703.pdf As a result of voter-approved Initiative 775, lawmakers are faced with a $98 million cost to implement a collective bargaining agreement between home care workers and the state Health Care Quality Authority. Unanswered questions make it impossible to understand the full fiscal consequences of the contract. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-02T23:41:42Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/Drugs021703.pdf E2SHB 1214 would create a Prescription Drug Quality and Purchasing Board to oversee a new state drug-purchasing consortium. However, the governor already has the power to implement consolidated drug purchasing administratively without further legislative authorization, and Governor Locke plans to use this power. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-02T23:56:40Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/MedicalAsst012203.pdf This Policy Brief summarizes the Research Council's recent Special Report, The Medical Assistance Challenge. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T17:55:43Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/responutilreg.pdf The state should be more accommodating of requests by utilities to site transmission lines and other facilities on state lands and regulators should provide a regulatory climate that will restore the financial health of its investorowned utilities. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T20:18:03Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/resutilityreg.pdf The state should be more accommodating of requests by utilities to site transmission lines and other facilities on state lands and regulators should provide a regulatory climate that will restore the financial health of its investor-owned utilities. No publisher carolynn 2007-03-29T20:03:10Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/I-775.pdf A new bureaucracy, expanded collective bargaining, and reduced legislative budget control would be delivered with passage of Initiative 775, a measure focusing on inhome care services. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T17:08:27Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/energyfinal.pdf Taxpayers subsidize the operations of publicly- and cooperativelyowned electric utilities. These subsidies which include tax exemptions and preferential access to low-cost BPA power all allow them to sell power at rates below those charged by investor-owned utilities. Loss of the subsidies would force the average government utility to increase rates by about one-third. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-02T17:31:11Z Publication http://www.researchcouncil.org/publications_container/populistreform.pdf To make government more responsive to the people, 24 states adopted the initiative and popular referendum some time between 1898 and 1918. Washington did so in 1911. No publisher carolynn 2007-04-03T18:58:03Z Publication