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Opinion / Guest Column


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  • State revenues growing overall but budget deficit still projected

    Jason Mercier, Washington Policy Center|Updated Oct 1, 2020

    First the good news. Unlike during the great recession, state revenue is still increasing overall during the COVID pandemic. According to the September revenue forecast: “Forecasted Near GF-S revenue for the 2019-21 biennium is now $50.022 billion, 8.6% higher than 2017-19 biennial revenue, and forecasted Near GF-S revenue for the 2021-23 biennium is $53.737 billion, an increase of 7.4% over expected 2019-21 biennial revenue.” The bad news of course, this revenue growth is...

  • Eliminating U.S. and Canadian trade barriers proves helpful

    Maryscott Greenwood|Updated Aug 27, 2020

    The U.S.-Canada border will remain closed for non-essential travel until at least Sept. 21. President Trump and Prime Minister Trudeau mutually agreed to seal the world's longest non-militarized border back in March to slow the spread of COVID-19. But while cross-border road trips and shopping excursions have come to a halt, commerce has continued as usual. That's a good thing – Canada is one of our most important trading partners. Now more than ever, we must strengthen t...

  • Law requires across-board budget cuts

    Jason Mercier, Washington Policy Center|Updated Jul 30, 2020

    There are two legal options to respond to a state budget deficit: The governor orders across the board budget cuts, or a special session of the Legislature occurs liquidating the deficit. The first is a blunt instrument allowing no thoughtful response. The second provides the people’s legislative branch of government the opportunity to deliberate a more surgical response. Gov. Jay Inslee, however, has made it clear he doesn’t plan to call a special session to allow law...