Washington’s Economy Needs Attention Outside of Puget Sound

An editorial in The Longview Daily News  examines the current state of Washington’s economy and specifically calls attention to its high unemployment numbers compared to neighbors Oregon and Idaho. The argument of this piece is straightforward: Washington’s economy is lagging behind its peers in the Pacific Northwest and the United States, and the time has […]

New Study Charts Course to Make Washington Ports Competitive Again

Earlier this month, the Washington Maritime Federation (WMF) released a new report highlighting  several challenges that stand to interfere with the future success of Washington’s port system and offers up specific policy recommendations on how state leaders can protect the state’s all-important maritime cluster. The impetus behind the analysis is the decline of West Coast […]

Washington Leaders Respond to Oil Train Critics

In an op-ed published in today’s Times, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzy Knezovich and John Stuhlmiller, CEO of the Washington Farm Bureau, argue that efforts to ban oil train traffic in Washington would be risky for the region’s economy. The authors argue that preservation of trade, the foundation of Washington’s economy, is crucial. They point out […]

ICYMI: Labor Leaders Highlight Job Killing Aspect of Washington’s Regulatory Process

ICYMI: Labor Leaders Highlight Job Killing Aspect of Washington’s Regulatory Process Washington’s regulatory environment continues to stifle job growth in the state, according to two of the state’s top labor leaders in a joint op-ed that ran in the Puget Sound Business Journal on September 16th. Larry Brown, the legislative and political director of the Aerospace […]

Spokane Council Decision Raises Legal & Constitutional Questions

The Spokane City Council recently voted to include a new policy initiative on November ballots that would fine railroad companies for running trains carrying crude oil and coal through the city. The measure immediately incited responses from local trade groups, labor leaders and agricultural interests while raising legitimate legal questions, including concerns from the city’s […]

Spokane City Council Bowing to Special Interests with Energy Ordinance

Proposal to make rail transport of energy products illegal would harm economy, create legal challenges for city OLYMPIA — A proposal under consideration by the Spokane City Council to make the transport of energy products illegal within city limits is drawing the ire of labor and agriculture interests who are concerned about the misguided policy’s potential […]

Preparedness is the Key to Rail Safety, Not A Ban

In the aftermath of the terrible oil train crash in Oregon last month, communities, experts, and stakeholders from across the country have been very vocal in trying to determine the solution to prevent these accidents. In an op-ed published in Morning Consult, Mark Chubb, former president of the Institution of Fire Engineers, USA Branch and […]

Panama Canal Expansion Highlights Need for Washington Port Enhancement

A week ago, Washington Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Bryant gave a speech at a rally held with New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez. Discussing challenges to Washington state, Bryant underscored the need to create and sustain family-supporting jobs throughout Washington while also noting incumbent Governor Jay Inslee’s cumbersome approach to capital infusions and project expansion in […]