Culture
How to turn our weather into a tourism asset
Cool in the summer? Mild the year around? Folks, we can make this sound pretty good to most of the country. Probably without trying very hard.
Dick Nelson
Dick Nelson is a former Washington State legislator. He currently contributes to the public debate on state and local fiscal issues through research and commentary. As when he was in the legislature,
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Politics
How a South Korean trade pact would impact the Northwest
The free-trade agreement is getting close, though the politics is still divisive. Here's a look at how strong are the trade bonds between the Northwest and this Asian tiger, and it's far more than jetliners.
Politics
Online sales growth is worsening state budget trouble
Washington (home of Amazon) has held back from growing national efforts to make online retailers pay sales taxes, but the recent revenue forecast emphasized the increasing problem posed by lost taxes on purchases from online outlets elsewhere.
Politics
Short-term cuts pose long-term threats to state higher education
The presidents of the state's universities are united in stressing the need for adequate higher education funding, a key to the state's future. But they seem to want to ignore the state's revenue problem.
Politics
Washington state's tax-break brawlers can take the fight outside
After the legislature's grueling session of damaging budget cuts, the courts may be the place to continue the fight to end tax giveaways to businesses.