Schmudget Blog
Senate Plays Risky Game with the Budget

Senate Plays Risky Game with the Budget

Posted by Kim Justice, 2013-05-16 14:35:00 | (0) Comments

By Kim Justice and Mike Mitchell -- In the popular game Jenga, players take turns removing pieces out of a tower of wooden blocks while trying to avoid having the entire structure fall down. It’s a game of risk—much like the one the state Senate is playing now.

Special Session Statement: It is Time to Choose

Special Session Statement: It is Time to Choose

Posted by Tara Lee, 2013-05-13 12:10:00 | (0) Comments

Budget Beat is Back-Special Session Edition

Budget Beat is Back-Special Session Edition

Posted by Tara Lee, 2013-05-10 16:50:00 | (0) Comments

Update: Jordan Schrader with the Tacoma News Tribune has agreed to join the Budget Beat call this Friday. He will share his observations from covering the legislature.

Senate Budget Fails to Fully Fund Education & Opportunity

Senate Budget Fails to Fully Fund Education & Opportunity

Posted by Michael Mitchell, 2013-05-10 16:50:00 | (0) Comments

Part five in a series “Special Legislative Session: The Big Picture.”  The Legislature will return to Olympia on Monday, where the focus will continue to be on education. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate have made additional investments in education & opportunity a high priority. However, the House budget proposal goes much further in making the key investments that expand early learning opportunities and fulfill our obligation to fund basic education.

State Investments Can Improve Health & Environment

State Investments Can Improve Health & Environment

Posted by Kim Justice, 2013-05-09 18:15:00 | (0) Comments

Part four in a series “Special Legislative Session: The Big Picture.” Both the House and Senate budgets take advantage of the single best opportunity to improve health: expansion of Medicaid to more than 250,000 people in Washington state.  But that’s not the end of the story, as there are still significant differences between the House and Senate bills in how we invest in keeping Washington’s people and environment healthy.

HIGHLIGHTS

Policy Agenda

We have released Framework for Prosperity, a comprehensive policy agenda for the 2013-2015 biennium. We make specific recommendations for targeted investments that would bring our state closer to providing prosperity for all Washingtonians. We also provide revenue options to help pay for those investments. Click on the image below to download a PDF of the agenda.

 

cover

 

Catch the Budget Beat

During the 2013 legislative session we will host regular Budget Beat calls and and podcaBudget Beatsts to bring you updates and breaking news from Olympia, timely policy analysis, and share resources and upcoming community events.

Check out the archive of Budget Beat calls and podcasts. 

Join the Budget Beat calls every other Friday at noon!  

Budget Matters 2012

Our first annual policy conference was a great success! More than 300 people came together to hear from policy makers, national and state policy experts, and community leaders from around the state. Our special lunch speaker was Van Jones.

Van jones at Budget Matters 

Here are some of the PowerPoint presentations from the break-out panels.

-The Affordable Care Act: Maximizing the Opportunities

-Building a Prosperity Economy in Washington State

-Building a 21st Century Revenue System

-Effective Messaging Strategies

For pictures and more information, check out our event page.