105 Days
For each day of the 2011 legislative session, we will be introducing one idea to help lawmakers balance the budget, cut government waste and stimulate the economy. You can read more by clicking on the link after each day’s recommendation. Contact Amber Gunn or Eric Lohnes with questions.
April 24, 2011
Day 105: Adopt a “Right-to-Work” Law
Washington state isn’t one of the 22 states with a “right-to-work” law. That’s unfortunate, because evidence indicates the economies of right-to-work states grow faster than non-right-to-work states. A right-to-work law prohibits collective bargaining agreements from requiring...Read more here
April 23, 2011
Day 104: Allow Private Competition for Workers’ Compensation
Washington state voters decided not to go ahead with Initiative 1082 last November—an initiative that would have allowed private companies to offer industrial insurance in Washington state. Currently, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has monopoly control over industrial...Read more here
April 22, 2011
Day 103: Stop Low-Volume Ferry Runs
This cost-saving measure is pretty straight forward: Washington State Ferries (WSF) needs to change their service schedule to reduce operational losses. Translation: Per the State Auditor’s September 2007 performance audit of WSF, low-volume ferry runs should be eliminated to save the state...Read more here
April 21, 2011
Day 102: Don’t Fund Home-Care-Training Program
Further demonstrating the political clout government sector unions leverage to direct taxpayer funds to themselves even at a time when the Legislature is turning over couch cushions in search of spare change, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) looks to be talking lawmakers into...Read more here
April 20, 2011
Day 101: Do Away with Double-Dipping
Should retired teachers pull down the equivalent of two salaries? If so, how should this be addressed during a time of economic duress?
April 19, 2011
Day 100: Give State Employees Health Savings Accounts
Health care will be a hot topic this summer, and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) will no doubt come up a lot. HSAs are pre-tax savings accounts on which no taxes are paid as long as funds are used to pay for health care expenses and are coupled with high-deductible insurance plans. These...Read more here
April 18, 2011
Day 99: Reduce State Pension Fund Debt
Washington state’s pension fund for public employees has been in the spotlight recently—for all the wrong reasons. Before the stock market decline subtracted almost $16 billion from the fund, more than 20 percent of its value, the state was already $5.9 billion behind in paying for the...Read more here
April 17, 2011
Day 98: Sell WSHFC Programs to Raise Millions
State lawmakers have been busily working to deal with the crisis caused by their overspending and overpromising of government services. Rather than tax and fee increases, revenue shifts and other assorted budgetary gimmicks, state government should look to reforming and restructuring the...Read more here
April 16, 2011
Day 97: Apply Salary Reductions to K-12 Employees As Well
Nobody likes to take a pay cut. On the other end, I’m sure it’s accurate to say, no one likes to issue a pay cut either. And yet, that’s exactly what needs to be done.
April 15, 2011
Day 96: Expand States Fiscal Transparency Website
We like the state’s searchable budget database, www.fiscal.wa.gov. It provides useful details on state expenditures and revenues in a variety of forms. It’s a great source for citizens, taxpayers, journalists and public policy wonks alike.
