Blog
State Transit Subsidies – what has been the return on investment?
The legislature has been very accommodating when it comes to public transportation. State law allows the creation of six types of transit authorities, and thirty-two local or regional agencies now operate in Washington. In…
You may need $4 million to receive a pension that matches Seattle’s median income
The question comes up a lot. How much money would you have to invest to get a $120,000 pension (pretax) in Washington state? The answer might shock you, especially if you are a public employee in the state retirement system.…
Free care for people who don’t live here? It’s being encouraged — HB 2250 can help
If you build it, they will come. And they are. Washington state’s charity care rules require hospitals to provide non-emergency charity care without regard to residency. It’s a recent change to decades-old policy limiting…
EV sales fell last year in Washington. More subsidies would be a mistake.
Electric vehicle (EV) sales took a hit in 2025 with the percentage of new car registrations that are all-electric falling to about 17 percent – a percentage point lower than 2024. That decline was punctuated by poor sales in…
The Hidden Economics of Drug Pricing
Watch for the episode to go live here on Thursday, January 29th at 3:00 PM MST. This month’s Frontier Briefing features a conversation with Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of 46brooklyn Research and President of 3Axis Advisors, on the…
SB 6304 Would Gamble Washington Pensions on Failing Environmental Mandates
Senate Bill 6304 would force ideological climate and social mandates into our state’s public pension investment strategy. The bill's vague language transforms pension investment into a political exercise, gambles with…
House Bill 1834 would create a regulatory nightmare and restricts parental control on social media
House Bill 1834 (HB 1834), introduced by Representative Callan, aimed at protecting minors online, is a prime example of government going too far. While safeguarding children online from inappropriate content is everyone’s…
Farmworker unionization bills can’t legislate goodness
Key takeaways:1. The Little Norris-LaGuardia Act already provides legal protections for people not covered under the National Labor Relations Act.2. Farmworkers unions in Washington state represent less than half a percent of…
Tax employers for paying people well? It’s for the needy, sorta
House Bill 2100 had a public hearing in the House Finance Committee on Thursday. The bill proposes taxing employers who pay their workers good wages. HB 2100 has 18 Democratic co-sponsors alongside bill sponsor, Rep. Shaun…
Testimony on HB 2100 – Payroll Expense Tax
The following testimony was submitted to the House Finance Committee during the 1/22/2026 hearing on HB 2100.My name is Ryan Frost, and I’m the Director of Budget and Tax Policy at the Washington Policy Center. I'm here…
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