The Blog at MSPC

The vivid contrast between Seattle and Bellevue is a lesson every municipality in the country can learn from. Imposing high local taxes and onerous regulations incentivizes individuals and businesses to look to neighboring jurisdictions for relief.

It takes an average of 18 to 36 months to rebuild a home burnt by wildfire in mere minutes, and most communities ravaged in an afternoon will take decades to be restored. Every day of this process is a day too long, but bureaucratic delays should not be adding months to the permitting process.

A new study from consumer spending site WalletHub recently ranked the “Best States to Live” across the country, with Idaho grabbing the top spot in the study. The other Mountain States scored relatively well, with Wyoming coming in sixth and Montana 14th, though Washington state ranked in the bottom half at 33rd.

And a new ranking of business formation across the 50 states provides a revealing look at just how differently entrepreneurship is unfolding across America.

It's no coincidence that the top states in the country for growing hourly wages embrace limited regulations, prioritize tax relief, and favor a small government approach. Combining growing wages, affordable purchasing power, and a favorable business climate means higher productivity and economic growth.

A one-stop portal can reduce these barriers by allowing citizens to securely access government services from virtually any location while improving operational efficiency across state governments.

How does repealing a brand-new income tax that won’t be collected for another three years impact any government services today? It doesn’t. This dubious crystal-ball fiscal clairvoyance has dismayed policy experts and government transparency advocates.

Maintaining a competitive economy requires constant attention to workforce development, business investment, tax and regulatory restraint, and the policies that encourage innovation and opportunity.

Washington’s ongoing denial of the impact its climate policies are having on the price of gas is in stark contrast to California, with similar policies. The Golden State at least has the honesty to acknowledge the cost increases for drivers.

Idaho is being rewarded for its prudent budget policies. The Evergreen State is facing a business climate in distress from self-inflicted wounds. Unless Washington changes course, expect more of its citizens and businesses to head east to enjoy the benefits of the Gem State’s fiscal discipline.

The study isn't asking whether removing the dams is wise. It's asking how to replace them after they're gone. That's not an honest analysis. It's an attempt to justify a predetermined political objective. The study isn't asking whether removing the dams is wise. It's asking how to replace them after they're gone. That's not an honest analysis. It's an attempt to justify a predetermined political objective.

Washington's AI Task Force failed to meaningfully help the state move the dial on leveraging AI to improve human flourishing. This outcome was in many ways predictable.

Every year, millions of Americans make one of the biggest decisions of their lives: whether to stay where they are or move somewhere they believe offers greater opportunity. They aren’t just choosing a new home. They’re choosing a different set of public policies.

By automatically increasing gas taxes each year, Washington policymakers are ensuring voters will pay even more without the normal public accountability or public debate for a tax increase. This yearly automatic gas tax increase should be towed back to the legislative garage for major repairs.

Government officials should strive to maximize voter participation on important issues, and requiring tax increases to be considered at a primary or general election does just that.

Hospital price transparency is not political; it’s the only fair, compassionate, and honest way to operate our healthcare system.

Amidst evidence of signature gatherers being harassed, Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown is offering support to prosecute those trying to interfere with the initiative and referendum process. This is a refreshing and much-needed defense of the people’s sacred constitutional rights and the rule of law.

Data centers have the potential to be an economic boon to the regions in which they are built, along with laying the groundwork for advances in medicine, national defense, and other research. Slowing data center development must be done based on local context, including the consumption levels of the data center and regional water availability.

Recently, Washington state and Idaho reported success in aggressively pursuing fraud in their respective Medicaid programs.

It's likely that rail costs are being severely underestimated and will comprise a much larger share of the total budget than projected.