The Blog at MSPC

Washington state lawmakers this year imposed a new tax that has already sent tremors through the state’s tech titans and small business owners. Senate Bill 5814 significantly broadened the state’s retail sales tax to include an extensive array of digital services.

When Fremont County voters in Wyoming were asked to pass an initiative in 2020 to dedicate ½ percent of the sales tax collected in the county to economic development, they were told it was essential to job, revenue and tax growth.

Students aren’t the only ones getting graded this time of year. States are starting to receive their credit ratings to help bondholders weigh whether they are a good investment.

Like an aggressive hog in the show ring, U.S. trade policy is attacking every other participant for existing near its space.

On the one hand, citizens complain about the ballooning rates, on the other, they vote to increase the rate with remarkable efficiency.

There was a lot of intrigue in Washington state as citizens and businesses waited to see what Governor Ferguson would do with the record tax increases lawmakers sent to his desk this year. Despite speculation that the new Governor may veto these massive tax increases, in the end, he signed them into law on May 20.

The 2025 Legislative Session is officially over in Montana. Lawmakers in the Treasure State focused on several priorities during their time in Helena, including record income tax relief, reducing business costs with unemployment insurance reform, and clarifying environmental laws in response to court rulings.

While an attempt was also made again to tax drivers by the mile to divert money, lawmakers “[waved] the white flag” on the issue this legislative session. This mileage tax will likely resurface again. The transportation tax bill currently sits on Governor Ferguson's desk for signature.

If there was a theme for the 2025 Legislative Sessions in our region, it was major tax changes. On the negative side of the ledger are the “historic” tax increases rammed through in Washington state. On the positive side are the “record” tax cuts enacted in Idaho and Montana. Consider these regional headlines from the past month:

This fantastic government transparency website provides searchable details on state, county, city, and local district spending. As of April 7, additional education spending details are also now available.

While the rest of the nation today enjoys the relief of surviving another National Tax Day (April 15), our friends in Washington instead woke up to the news that no fewer than five new tax increase bills were introduced on April 16.

Tired of waiting for federal action on the nation’s $36 trillion national debt, Governors are banding together to press for state action.

Recognizing that Montana imposes the region's highest income tax rate, state officials are looking to increase economic competitiveness and provide taxpayer relief this session with additional income tax cuts. How much, however, is in question.

Legislators adjourned Friday afternoon, 89 days after they kicked off the session on a foggy, cold January morning in Boise. Nearly 800 bill

We all have our favorite president. For me, it’s Ronald Reagan. My admiration of the Gipper began as a young child. You can imagine the...

The long debate in Idaho surrounding Medicaid this year has concluded with lawmakers sending Governor Little an updated Medicaid budget (...

Voters in Wyoming and around the country have been clamoring for property tax relief as housing prices have risen almost 27 times faster...

Years of increasing taxes and regulations are leaving Washington employers facing the dreaded blue screen of death when it comes to their...

A bill hoping to deliver on the long-overdue climate tax fuel exemptions promised to agricultural producers has passed the Washington...

Fairness and consistency in public contracts are essential for a healthy economic climate. When certain industries are subject to a...