Blog
Why I’m not mourning the end of enhanced ACA subsidies
Congress is ending the year without renewing the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced, temporary subsidies. As a result, premiums for ACA plans are expected to rise. Taxpayers will continue subsidizing most marketplace enrollees,…
Solving Washington’s Deficit Without Tax Increases
While the majority party insists state government is facing revenue shortfalls, the data show we have simply built a bureaucracy designed to grow faster than taxpayers' ability to pay for it. House Republicans’ have…
Albany’s School Speed Zone Camera Summer Daze
This fall, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law bills containing the state’s permission for three cities — Mount Vernon, Schenectady and White Plains — to test camera enforcement for school speed zones. Public officials and…
Another problem with strike pay from the UI fund: Potential double-dipping, overpayments
When Senate Bill 5041 takes effect in January 2026, Washington state will become one of the few states allowing striking workers to collect unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. I’ve written extensively about why this is a…
Some good changes to WA Cares, new area of recommendation needed
At the most recent meeting of the group charged with improving, monitoring and implementing the WA Cares program, I was reminded about a few good changes implemented last legislative session. And I pointed them to an idea for…
Washington Talks Floods but Spends Climate Money Elsewhere
As flooding hit Western Washington, some argued that the record flooding was evidence of climate change and the need for more state spending to prevent similar events in the future. Whether that is true or not, the state’s…
More taxes are sadly the Washington state way
A state agency and two different legislative commissions had meetings this week in which they discussed health care issues in Washington state, legislative priorities and federal health care reforms eventually coming our way.…
More and higher taxes is sadly the Washington state way
A state agency and two different legislative commissions had meetings this week in which they discussed health care issues in Washington state, legislative priorities and federal health care reforms eventually coming our way.…
Would you invest in Massachusetts or New Hampshire?
If U.S. states were companies that traded on the stock market, the only New England state with a “buy” rating would probably be New Hampshire. Massachusetts could be called “Big Blue,” the tradition-bound leader cruising on…
Is the cheap fast-food burger a thing of the past?
Recent data from Wendy's restaurant paints a stark picture of economic strain gripping America's lower wage earners. Since March 2025, households earning under $75,000 visiting Wendy’s restaurants, have plummeted in…
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