Author Archive

Special Session in Olympia Convenes; Little to Happen for Time Being

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On Monday, May 13, Governor Jay Inslee, http://governor.wa.gov/ called the state legislature back to Olympia for a 30 day special session. The legislature’s, http://www.leg.wa.gov, primary task is to agree upon and pass a… Read More

State House of Reps. Passes Massive Tax Bill; Eliminates R&D Tax Incentives, Keeps B&O at 1.8%

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Yesterday, April 24 the Washington state House of Representatives passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2038 by a vote of 50-47.   This bill leaves the B&O rate for services at 1.8%, removing the temporary… Read More

House Budget Puts More Emphasis on STEM Education than Senate

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As the final week of the legislative session in Olympia begins, it is becoming increasingly evident that the legislature will not finish its budget work on time and will require a special session… Read More

Fate of Tax Incentives for R&D Uncertain, Hearing Friday to Eliminate Them

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On Friday morning in Olympia, the House Finance Committee, http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/committees/FIN/Pages/default.aspx, will have a public hearing on House Bill 2038, http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2038, a comprehensive bill to raise about $1 billion in revenue. There are a… Read More

Parts of the Budget that Get Little Attention — But Can Have Big Impacts

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While the state operating budget gets lots of attention in Olympia and in the media, very few really know how it gets put together and all the vagaries in it.  Most people focus… Read More

Senate Passes $33.2 billion Budget, AP Computer Science Bill Keeps Moving, House to Roll Out Budget and Taxes Wednesday

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Last Friday, the Washington State Senate passed its version of the 2013-15 operating budget of $33.2 billion by a vote of 30-18, with nine Democrats voting with all but one Republican.  The Senate… Read More

AP Computer Science Bill HB 1472 in Trouble — Email or Call Sen. Steve Litzow Today

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HB 1472, http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1472, the bill that enhances AP Computer Science and sets up a Computer Science task force is being held up in the Senate K-12 Committee by Chairman Steve Litzow, http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/senators/Pages/litzow.aspx. This… Read More

Gov. Inslee Proposes Sales Tax on Custom Software

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Today, Governor Inslee rolled out his budget “concepts” and a tax package billed as “closing loopholes”.  You can read the full document here: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/budget13inslee/full_budgetpriorities.pdf In addition to extending the B&O surcharge of 0.3%… Read More

Senate Majority Caucus Steps Up for Higher Education

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On Monday, March 19 the Washington Senate Majority Coalition Caucus, http://majoritycoalitioncaucus.org/ released its plan to support higher education in the 2013-15 budget, after several years of deep budget cuts and rising tuition. You can… Read More

March Revenue Forecast Yields Few Surprises; Slow Growth Expected

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Yesterday, on the first day of spring, the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, http://www.erfc.wa.gov, presented its quarterly economic and revenue forecast that is used to underpin the state operating budget for… Read More

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