Think tank finds WA wasting CCA money on projects with little enviro benefit
The Center Square featured Todd's work on the wasteful CCA spending and how it does very little to benefit the environment.
Higher Ferry Tolls Can't Cover New Costs
The Washington State Transportation Commission has approved ferry fare increases, with rates on all routes rising by 3% in October and again in May 2026. The peak season surcharge will jump to 35%, while a vessel replacement surcharge will rise to $1 per ticket, and a new credit card service fee will add another 3% to costs.
Even with these stacking new costs, the picture still looks grim. Steep increases in operating costs, have created a growing gap between fare revenue and expenses, with coverage falling from 75% to just 50%.
Despite the fare hikes, the gap will remain. With 80% of operating costs tied to labor and wages largely outside legislative control, cost-cutting will require greater workforce efficiency, potentially through labor-saving vessel designs in the long-delayed fleet renewal program. Without tackling rising costs, ferry users can expect more fare hikes in the future.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
New Metric Shows How Much Washington Squanders Environmental Funding By David Boze WPC's Report Card for Washington's Future once again highlights the state's failure to produce results, even while spending enormous amounts of taxpayer dollars. READ MORE
Health Care Reforms Will Hurt More if Washington State Doesn’t Get More on Board By Elizabeth New The sky is falling a bit in health care, but that’s not because temporary, enhanced COVID subsidies will lessen or because more will be expected of Medicaid recipients who receive taxpayer-financed care. READ MORE
A Political Unicorn By David Boze Learn the fascinating history of our Annual Policy Dinner keynote speaker, and how his insights can make your life more purposeful. READ MORE
Does More Medicaid Mean Fewer ER Visits? Mixed Results By Elizabeth New Emergency-room use is often cited in debates about the need for continued Medicaid expansion and claims that Medicaid reforms in the federal budget bill will harm the health care system, but the data is a bit more complicated. READ MORE
50 years with the Lower Snake River Dams is worth celebrating By Todd Myers Todd's latest in the Idaho Statesman and Tri-City Herald makes the case that for fifty years, the Lower Snake River Dams have been a boon for Washington. READ MORE
Microsoft President Brad Smith Joins Our Bellevue Dinner!
Our Annual Policy Dinner events will be held in Bellevue on September 11th and in Spokane on October 10th. Come and support accountability and the principles of free enterprise for Washington! We're pleased to announce Microsoft President Brad Smith will be joining us in Bellevue!
As Microsoft’s vice chair and president, Brad Smith is responsible for spearheading the company’s work and representing it publicly on a wide variety of critical issues involving the intersection of technology and society, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy, environmental sustainability, human rights, digital safety, immigration, philanthropy, and products and business for non-profit customers. He leads a team of roughly 2,000 business, legal and corporate affairs professionals located in 54 countries and operating in more than 120 nations. Learn more!
2025 EWA Summer Road Show
We’re partnering with Chambers of Commerce across Eastern Washington to bring you a series of engaging events that put the spotlight on our state’s performance and how these organizations are impacting your community. Our next event is in Yakima, with more appearances in Spokane and Moses Lake!
Invest in building a better Washington.
By embracing free-market principles in our research and initiatives, WPC provides the knowledge and tools you need to actively shape positive outcomes in our state. Together, let's pave the way towards a prosperous future for all Washingtonians.
