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SEPA reform needed
Members of the Seattle City Council have been accused of trying to “…gut bedrock environmental protection rules…” because they state what has been obvious to many stakeholders all along—the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) is used as a tool to delay or derail projects. While Council Member Mike O’Brien’s proposed ordinance is far from perfect, […]
Energy & Environment
Ecology proposes new spill limits for dams
The state Department of Ecology is proposing to increase the maximum amount of water that can be spilled over the lower Columbia and Snake...
Chelan PUD voices support for Snake River dams
The Chelan PUD commissioners this week voted unanimously in favor of a resolution opposing the removal of eight dams on the lower Snake River....
Education
Picking Peter’s pocket to pay Paul: Lazy McCleary ‘fix’ leaves critical infrastructure projects out...
Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To give the poor dog a bone;
But when she got there
The cupboard was bare,
And so the poor dog had...
Attacking the gap: the bridge from class to career
After years spent mired in the Supreme Court’s McCleary decision and battling over education funding, the legislature is now uniquely aligned around one major...
Growth
Planners should rethink growth strategies, says Strong Towns advocate
By 2040, Washington state is estimated to have a population of almost 9 million residents; that’s an increase of 1.4 million from its current...
Reforming the housing development process
Following a recent housing summit in Bellevue, the House Local Government Committee held a work session in Federal Way examining the various public policies...
Healthcare
Contemplating a single-payer system
Washington state lawmakers this session considered several bills intended to reduce healthcare costs. However, while the approach focuses on capping the rates by health...
Healthcare “standardized” plan proposal passes
The Washington state lawmakers in the final days of session approved legislation intended to lower healthcare costs, but opponents say it will have the...
Health care bill clears House
The Washington House voted 53-38 on April 10 in favor of a Senate bill purported to lower health care costs, while detractors argued prior...
Business
Tour highlights state’s manufacturing sector
The state of Washington’s manufacturers has gained the renewed attention of state lawmakers and business groups interested in the sector’s long-term health, and the...
Plaintiffs target Sound Move car tab
Now that Sound Transit has rejected a settlement offer in a lawsuit filed against its ST3 motor vehicle excise tax (MVET), the plaintiffs want...
Seattle “all over the place”: Income isn’t money
Throughout the two-year court fight over Seattle’s income tax ordinance, the city has argued that the tax doesn’t violate the state constitution or state...