Member Opinions

Last December when the governor unveiled her state operating budget proposal, she asked the Legislature to refrain from tax increases. “Now is not the time to be raising taxes on... ...

May 20, 2009

In my April report to the chambers of commerce, I provided a bill alert listing several pieces of legislation that may affect businesses. Now that the 2009 Legislature adjourned its... ...

May 14, 2009

The 2009 legislative session adjourned April 26. Although the governor may call the Legislature into special session, it’s time to look back at the regular session with my annual thumbs-up/thumbs... ...

May 13, 2009

Two years ago, Washington had a $2 billion budget surplus. Although revenues were up, the Legislature approved a 2007-09 operating budget that spent $1.3 billion more than the state expected... ...

April 22, 2009

The Washington State Legislature is in the last week of the regular lawmaking session. The budget proposals recently offered by the governor and leaders of the House and Senate unfairly... ...

April 16, 2009

It’s April 15, tax day, the deadline to file your federal income tax returns and give the federal government a substantial portion of your income. Tomorrow, however, is also a... ...

April 15, 2009

We live in some of the most beautiful recreational areas in the world. Our state parks are chosen destination spots of Washingtonians and out-of-state visitors looking for a getaway or... ...

April 8, 2009

Our economy is struggling – our local papers are streamlining to save money, our small employers are cutting back expenses and our families are slimming down household budgets to focus... ...

April 7, 2009

Families are struggling, employers are closing their doors, Washington’s unemployment rate is 8.4 percent and the state’s spending problem has created a deficit of $9 billion. Considering these critical factors,... ...

April 6, 2009

When our nation’s founding fathers met in Philadelphia in 1787 to draft a new U.S. Constitution, they deadlocked on how the president should be chosen. James Madison argued against having... ...

April 1, 2009