The Legislature is in session and WPC has the information and analysis you need to stay informed and contact your legislators.
Friend,
this is your weekly update on the latest news from Washington state. Make sure to forward this to someone you think should be informed!
ACCOUNTABILITY
A Win for Transparency: CO2 Tax Costs No Longer Hidden on Energy Bills
Washington Policy Center, in conjunction with Citizen Action Defense Fund, pushed and won tax transparency for utility customers across Washington state. A previous rule which prevented Puget Sound Energy from listing the costs of the CCA on customer bills has been rescinded, with new rules requiring those costs to be listed. READ MORE
Washington Daycare Grants: $2 Million Missing or Much More?
After an internal audit from the Department of Children Youth and Families revealed $2 million in unaccounted for payments, legislators are calling for an investigation into the missing funds. READ MORE
AFFORDABILITY
SB 6134 Would Better Protect Workers, Employers and Taxpayers
A simple bill, SB 6134, would notify striking workers who apply for unemployment benefits that they would be responsible for repaying those funds if they receive backpay at the conclusion of their strike. This helps protect workers and taxpayers alike. READ MORE
Testimony on HB 2100 - Payroll Expense Tax
Read Budget & Tax Policy Director Ryan Frost's written testimony for the disastrous head tax bill, which would impose Seattle's failed policy on the entire state. READ MORE
OPPORTUNITY
Help Washington's Farmers Survive and Keep Food Costs Competitive
In 2024, the agricultural community in Washington state finished the year with negative $295 million in take-home pay, meaning agricultural employers were upside down in operating expenses. The agricultural community does not have the funds needed to weather this bad policy. READ MOREand CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS to make your voice heard.
TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR:
NO NEW TAXES!
Use WPC's new "take action" tool to email a "No New Taxes" message to the governor, your state senator and your state representatives. Fill out the form, edit the draft email to reflect your voice and point of view, then click send. It's easy. With Governor Ferguson announcing his support for an income tax, your voice is more important than ever before.Visit the Take Action page today and urge your friends to do the same!
How many people you know would guess that Washington ranks 45th -- near the bottom -- for business taxes? Or that our state operating budget increased almost 49 percent (AFTER adjusting for inflation and population control) since the 2012-2015 budget? The legislative session is coming up quickly. To make informed decisions about how to best govern our state, we must acknowledge where we are. WPC's Report Card for Washington's Future gives you the data you need to cut through rhetoric and see where our state needs course correction.
ADORABLE KIDS take action in Olympia! After WPC dropped off the first 27,000 signatures to the Governor's office during the last legislative session, another 10,000 or so came in, so WPC team members and their families traveled to the Capitol Building to help deliver the next batch and teach them the importance of making your voice heard.
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 and make Washington a place of opportunity for younger generations.
