Washington’s Tax Freedom Day Arrived Later this Year

Session-Ending Tax Deal Exposes a Big Weakness in the Case Against I-1053

When Republicans joined with Democrats to end a tax break for out-of-state banks this year, it sounded like they were throwing a bone to the anti-“loophole” crowd.

Financing Pensions

This proposal essentially lures money from private-sector workers and companies into the bankrupt state pension systems. Our state and local government pension systems are already heading toward bankruptcy.

Obamacare: Pain or Prescription for College Students’ Ailing Futures?

Have you ever heard of someone waiting 18 months to get an MRI?
It’s a frequent scenario in Canada, a country that is noticeably free in most respects. The exception is health care, which is controlled by the government.
But waiting 18 months for an MRI rarely happens in the United States. In fact, I’d go out on a limb and say it’s never happened in the United States…yet. This week, a crucial event is taking place whose outcome very well could be the difference between waiting 18 months or 18 minutes for an MRI. The United States Supreme Court has begun to hear the long-awaited arguments on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, popularly known as “Obamacare.” The Court is expected to rule in June.

Special Session

Get all the latest news and unbiased information from this year’s special session.  Can our legislators figure out the budget deficit?  Are we destined to return to this same problem every few months?

Get the Facts on Initiative 1183

We are highlighting the facts about each 2011 ballot measure every day this week. Before you cast your vote, make sure you get the facts about I-1183.

Informed Voter Guide 2011

It can be tricky to make the right decision when it comes to voting on an initiative. More often than not you don’t have enough information to make a confident choice either way. But now you can get the unbiased facts about the 2011 Washington initiatives by reading our Initiative Guide!

State Budget

Get all the latest budget news, analysis and happenings here. The development of this year’s budget is bound to be a fight, and the Freedom Foundation stands squarely in the taxpayer’s corner. We get dirty so you don’t have to.

April Jobs Numbers Show Strong Private Sector

Employment in Washington has improved considerably since April 2011, when the unemployment rate was more than a percentage point higher at 9.3%. Since then, the state has added nearly 40,000 jobs. Washington’s unemployment rate is still well above pre-recession levels and tracks closely with the national unemployment rate (also 8.1% in April).

Washington’s Tax Freedom Day is Finally Here

This year’s Tax Freedom Day finally arrived for Washington State today, April 24th—twelve days later than last year.  Washington’s Tax Freedom Day is a week later than the National Tax Freedom Day, which happened to be the day federal tax returns were due. It could be just a little bit worse, though; New York and New Jersey must wait until May 1st, and Connecticut won’t see their Tax Freedom Day until May 5th this year.

Wait, what? It’s Tax Day?

This year, April 15—the usual deadline to file federal taxes—fell on a Sunday. Whenever that happens, the IRS actually puts off tax day. This makes sense if you’re familiar with the Gospels, which are pretty clear on the need for tax collectors to repent.

A Closer Look at the State Budget Deal

Governor Chris Gregoire called for a special session on September 22nd of last year to address an impending budget shortfall. 201 days later, after a third special session and a budget-negotiation all-nighter, legislators have finally done their job and balanced the budget. Just after 6:00 am this morning, the Senate passed the final version of the budget bill by a 44-2 margin.

68 Washington public agencies and municipalities fail to report lobbying expenses

OLYMPIA—Today the Evergreen Freedom Foundation filed complaints with the Public Disclosure Commission against 68 public entities for either improperly reporting lobbying expenses or failing to report them altogether, based on discrepancies between expenditure reports filed by lobbyists and those filed by public agencies. Most of the agencies are cities, counties, ports and utility districts.

EFF sues to get investigative records from ferry crash

The Evergreen Freedom Foundation is suing the Washington State Department of Transportation over its refusal to release the drug and alcohol testing results of the crew of the M/V Wenatchee after the ferry’s hard landing at Coleman Dock on August 30, 2009.

The Foundation requested investigative records related to the incident. The Department of Transportation provided numerous records, but redacted information related to the individual results of testing that occurred. The official investigative report states that alcohol or drugs were not a factor in this incident.

EFF sues to obtain public employee drug and alcohol test results

Do you think members of the public have a right to know if public employees piloting state ferries are under the influence of drugs or alcohol? We do.
Do you think the Department of Transportation (DOT) should use a federal administrative rule to avoid our state public records law? We don’t.

Governor hides hundreds of documents, claiming ‘executive privilege’

Is Governor Chris Gregoire constitutionally entitled to keep secrets from you? She thinks so. The state Public Records Act mandates that all public records held by government agencies are to be available to the public, unless the record is specifically exempted from disclosure by law.

Obamacare event audio for podcast listeners

The Obamacare event video is online, but for those like me who prefer just the audio, we’re providing the event audio also. Here is part 1 of the event.

Obamacare event audio part 2

The video is online, but if you prefer audio podcasts, here is part 2 of 2 from the Freedom Foundation’s Obamacare Event.

Final radio version of RFW, but much more to come

The last show in the original format offers an inside look at The Heritage Foundation’s Resource Bank conference in Colorado Springs and some reflections on the world-wide movement for individual liberty and free markets, as well as the blessings of political stability that we enjoy in our country. Plus, what do law students think about the Electoral College, and about the Constitution in general? And if you want to know more about the Constitution, you can find it at WeThePeopleHQ.org.

New Radio Free Washington Podcast recaps Obamacare event, tax day, no-hitter, and no-shooting

From Mariners baseball to shotgun pellets to Obamacare, the new Radio Free Washington podcast covers it all. Do lawmakers check the facts before regulating our lives, or do they just look for justifications for their own shortsighted good intentions? Is Trent getting old? What are the dumbest areas of federal spending? And recapping some great victories with a full house to hear good news from the Obamacare Supreme Court oral arguments (from someone who was there, in the courtroom) and Thurston County surrendering to duck hunters with a little backup from the Freedom Foundation.