Public safety bill heading to the Governor
HB 2015 was approved by the House on Tuesday night and now heads to the Governor, who has indicated his intent to […]
Judge strikes down Washington’s Natural Gas Initiative
A King County Superior Court judge has overturned I-2066, a voter-approved measure aimed at preserving natural gas access in Washington. Judge Sandra […]
House passes unemployment insurance for striking workers
In a narrow vote, the House of Representatives passed SB 5041, which would extend unemployment insurance (UI) benefits to workers on strike, […]
Seattle Times editorial board urges cautious budgeting for Seattle
As economic uncertainty looms due to weak job growth and the potential impact of new tariffs, The Seattle Times editorial board commended […]
Controversial “Crimes Against the Environment” bill passes committee by one vote
SB 5360, dubbed the “Crimes Against the Environment” bill, narrowly passed the House Environment Committee on Monday by a single vote. While […]
Tensions surface in Seattle City Council
Seattle Council President Sara Nelson’s leadership as council president has caused divides among the Seattle City Council. (Kevin Clark / The Seattle […]
Governor cautions against $12 billion tax proposal amid budget uncertainty
In response to a proposed $12 billion in new taxes, Governor Bob Ferguson acknowledged the Legislature’s hard work addressing a $16 billion […]
Tariffs and inflation slow retail outlook for 2025
Retail sales are expected to grow at a slower pace in 2025, with projections ranging from 2.7% to 3.7%, according to the […]
King County Executive Constantine resigns to become Sound Transit’s CEO
Image credit: (Peter Bohler / King County) On March 27, the Sound Transit governing board unanimously selected King County Executive Dow Constantine […]
Puget Sound mayors warn against business tax hikes
Mayors from Bellevue, Federal Way, Kirkland, Redmond, Des Moines, and Renton gathered for a joint news conference on March 28, 2025. A […]
New budget shortfall leads Mayor Harrell to consider cuts and new progressive taxes
Seattle is facing a projected $240 million shortfall in tax revenue for the 2025–2026 biennium, prompting Mayor Bruce Harrell to direct city […]
Curbing escalating payroll expenses for Washington employers
Earlier this month, WR highlighted the mounting regulatory costs burden on retailers. To further illustrate these challenges, the March 2025 Washington State […]