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Significant spending increases in budgets passed by the House and Senate
March 1, 2022The Washington Research Council has published a comparative analysis of the budgets passed by the House and Senate. As the two chambers work to reconcile the differences, the WRC assessment suggests o…Read more
Another reason to “heed the pessimistic forecast:” Key inflation indicator climbs to biggest annual gain since 1983.
February 25, 2022Previously, we noted Washington Research Council economist Kriss Sjoblom's advice that state budget writers "heed the pessimistic forecast." He wrote yesterday, At the ERFC’s February 16, meeting, Exe…Read more
WRC: “Heed the pessimistic forecast.” Budget for sustainability in uncertain times.
February 25, 2022As we've written, the House and Senate budgets being considered in Olympia push state spending increases to unprecedented heights. The expanded commitments, even in normal times, would raise concerns…Read more
Nationally initial unemployment benefit claims fall; continuing claims at lowest level in decades.
February 24, 2022The U.S. Department of Labor reports another drop in initial weekly UI claims. The headline, though, is that ongoing claims have reached a low not seen in decades. In the week ending February 19, the…Read more
Record spending in proposed state budgets, with no general tax relief. More analysis.
February 24, 2022As the state Legislature moves into its final days, more analysis of the recently released state budget proposals has become available. The Washington Research Council reports, The 2022 supplemental o…Read more
“Never been a better time” for tax relief: Business leader
February 23, 2022Although neither legislative budget plan includes general tax relief, advocates of tax reduction continue to make their case. A lot can happen in the closing days of a legislative session. Association…Read more