Senate moves to increase jobless benefits: The Legislature moved a step closer Thursday to passing a plan to temporarily increase the state’s weekly unemployment benefits. Washington state income tax could raise $6.67 billion in 2012: Is the income tax proposal for real this year? Every year, state Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma, introduces a bill calling […]
Ramping up unemployment insurance. Plus: reforming the tax structure and tax cuts
February 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Time to redefine basic education? Plus: funding for schools lost and budget woes
February 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Mary Jean Ryan: Washington must redefine “basic education”: Time to redefine “basic education” for K-12 funding so Washington can pull itself out of the race to the education cellar, argues Mary Jean Ryan, chair of the Washington state Board of Education. Though times are tough, she says, the changes proposed in two bills will redefine […]
Big changes in the new stimulus plan for Washington. Plus: tax revenue, state spending, early learning, investing in education and unemployment
February 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Aspects of Senate stimulus plan upset state officials: School construction funding, including more $208 million to help modernize nearly 140 schools in Washington state, was dropped as the Senate passed its version of a massive economic recovery plan Tuesday. Washington monthly tax revenue less than expected: The state Revenue Forecast Council says tax collections in […]
Fixing the market for childcare in Washington
February 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment
In a debate framed by fiscal crisis and political fallout from unprecedented budget cuts, one thing remains clear: the market for childcare is broken. Teachers are paid minimal wages, and high-quality child care is expensive and hard to find for parents. It’s well and good to declare an intent to improve the situation, but real […]
