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Latest from WPC’s Blog
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WPC in the News
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Events
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Speaking Engagements
Obama should bring government transparency into the 21st century
The Examiner (Washington, D.C.) published an op-ed recently on the need for President-elect Obama to make fundamental reforms to improve government transparency and accountability. Jason Mercier, Director of WPC's Center for Government Reform, teamed up with Patrice McDermott, Director of OpenTheGovernment.org, to write the op-ed. It is based on the national 21st Century Right to Know Coalition's recommendations to Obama published last month.
WPC President Dann Mead Smith on KING 5's Up Front Discussing State's Overspending
Dann Mead Smith appeared on KING 5's Up Front show on December 7th. The topic of discussion was the state's $5+ billion spending deficit. Dann pointed out that even with the sour economy, the state will still collect $1.4 billion more in revenue for the next budget than it did for the previous budget. The problem is that lawmakers want to spend even more.
State Searchable Budget Website Now Live
On December 3rd, following a press conference at the capitol, the state released a new website that puts all state spending online in a searchable, easy-to-use format. Fiscal.wa.gov is an unprecedented step towards transparency and interactivity in government, and was called for by legislation passed during the 2008 legislative session. The legislation was based on WPC's research and recommendation in Creating a Free, Searchable Website of State Spending, published in December 2007. Read more about this in WPC’s press release on the searchable budget website
Policy Guide for Washington State, 3rd Edition, Now Available!
Visit washingtonpolicyguide.org to learn more.
Subscribe to RSS Biz Buzz December 2008: Washington Policy Center's Annual Dinner
Seattle Business Monthly, December issue
The Fraud of Government Intervention
Real Clear Politics, December 31
Tax capped, but no relief
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 25
On Nickels' wish list: solar panels atop Qwest Field hall
The Seattle Times, December 20
Gregoire's budget goal is on target: stay within means
Yakima Herald-Republic, December 19
Governor’s budget has deep cuts
Spokesman Review (Spokane), December 19
State budget and reader comments
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 18
Residents submit ideas for a thriftier Washington
Spokesman Review (Spokane), December 18
Smart budgeting and accountability: Washington cannot have one without the other
Tacoma Weekly, December 18
Obama Should Move Government Into 21st Century Transparency
The Examiner (Washington, D.C.), December 17
Gregoire's pledge won't be last word on taxes
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 16
Privatize booze biz, help save $6 bil?
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 15
Target-rich environment for amateur bean counters
The Columbian (Vancouver), December 14
Public Safety and Taxation
The Seattle Times, December 12
To cut health costs let patients become cost-conscious shoppers
Seattle Local Health Guide, December 12
Olympia's kudzu of commissions
Crosscut.com, December 11
Puget Sound can be healed without higher taxes
Port Orchard Independent, December 9
Snohomish County Council gets the link between public-safety and treatment
The Seattle Times, December 11
Data to the people
Spokesman Review (Spokane), December 10
$237 million state travel tab
Seattle Post Intelligencer, December 9
Some Sound changes can be made without taxes
Bellingham Herald, December 9
Framing the Debate over the Budget Shortfall
Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy, December 8
Is it time to think about raising taxes?
KING 5 TV’s Up Front show, December 7
How can Olympia solve its budget problems?
Port Orchard Independent, December 6
PDC hits deadlock on Internet lobbying rules
The Olympian, December 4
Washington State to Attempt Universal Coverage Plan
State House Call, December 3
Try Fiscal.wa.gov
Seattle Weekly, December 3
Show Me the Money: Yet Another Transparency Database
State Policy Blog, December 2
Washington State Health Insurance Plan Will Fail, Analyst Argues
Seattle Local Health Guide, December 2
Washington State Auditor Identifies $240 Million in Potential Taxpayer Savings
Budget & Tax News, December issue
Tax Transparency Next Focus of Open Government Reforms
Budget & Tax News, December issue
Students and Recent Graduates are Invited to an Exciting Free Leadership School
Has America lost its way? Why are there so few real leaders in our country today? You can find out at an exciting free educational opportunity for students and interns in our state. This is a unique opportunity on January 9, 2009 to learn the true conservative values of America's Federalist Founders from one who learned them from President Ronald Reagan.
The Federalist Leadership Center teaches leadership courses nationwide based on the federalist ideas of America's Founders and will hold a half-day school in Olympia for college students and young activists. Is this school something you would be interested in? There would be no cost to you except getting there. The school begins at 1:00 PM with lunch and will be finished by 4:30. If you are interested in attending and earning a leadership certificate of completion for the school, please contact Professor Devine at donald.devine@bellevue.edu with your name, college or activist background, email address and phone number requesting admission to the course.
The school, co-sponsored by Washington Policy Center, is conducted by Professor Donald Devine, Ronald Reagan's head of the civil service when they cut 100,000 bureaucratic jobs and saved over $6 billion reducing bloated benefits. Devine, the former CEO of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, is director of the Federalist Leadership Center and professor at Bellevue University. He is a columnist, a writer, an adjunct scholar at The Heritage Foundation, editor of ConservativeBattleline.com, a vice chairman of the American Conservative Union and a Washington-based consultant. He was a senior advisor to Ronald Reagan from 1976 to 1985, to Sen. Bob Dole from 1988-96 and to Steve Forbes from 1998-2000. Devine has written seven books and was a Republican nominee for Congress and state Comptroller in Maryland.
Contact Professor Devine for more information or to RSVP, donald.devine@bellevue.edu
Join Us for WPC's Center for Education
Kick-off Event
Reversing the Decline of Public Schools:
How Putting Principals in Charge Helps Students Learn
On Thursday, January 22, 2009, WPC's Center for Education will hold its formal kick-off event in Seattle. The event will feature Professor Bill Ouchi (pronounced "OH-chi") of the Anderson School of Management UCLA, an expert in organizational design and a pioneer in the empirical study of K-12 public school management. His book, Making Schools Work (Simon and Schuster), which examined the management of six large urban school districts, found that those districts which allowed principals to control their budgets were able to significantly raise student achievement. He is currently at work on his next book, The Secret of Total Student Load, to be published by Simon and Schuster in the fall of 2009.
MORE INFORMATION HERE
Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities
January 13, 2009, Red Lion Hotel Pasco, 6:00 pm
Todd Myers, director of the Center for the Environment, will speak about environmental issues and Center for Small Business Director Carl Gipson will speak about small business issues facing the Tri Cities area.
Pierce County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
January 15, 2009, The VENUE on Union, 3822 South Ave., Tacoma 98409
WPC President Dann Mead Smith will speak at monthly chamber luncheon.
2009 Annual Small Business Day at the Capitol and Legislative Lunch
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Historic Hoff Building in downtown Boise, Crystal Ballroom, 802 West Bannock, Boise, Idaho
Michael Ennis will be the key note speaker and will be discussing Five Principles of Responsible Transportation Policy. He will also moderate a panel on transportation issues.
Pasco Chamber of Commerce
March 9, 2009
WPC President Dann Mead Smith will speak during lunch.
