We discuss an interesting court case from Colorado - a lawsuit challenging the (federal) constitutionality of that state's voter-approved Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, a tax-limitation measure. Also, 2015-17 budget funding for Washington's Health Benefit Exchange, and a critical shortage of skilled workers to fill manufacturing jobs in the Puget Sound region.

With the state Supreme Court due for another ruling on the Legislature's K-12 funding progress, we discuss all the latest McCleary news, including filings and reasonable expectations for how quickly lawmakers can tackle very complex issues. We also touch on Gov. Inslee's announcement on a regulatory carbon cap.

The Legislature has issued its annual progress report to the state Supreme Court on the McCleary case, which ordered the state to fully fund basic education by 2018.

(Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music)

Good news from the June employment report, a look at Initiative 1366 (requiring the legislature to send a constitutional amendment for 2/3 approval of tax increases to voters for approval), and lawmakers' progress report to the state Supreme Court on the McCleary K-12 funding case.

Today we welcome special guest Randi Abrams-Caras for the first of what we hope will be many discussions about finding common ground on policy in a politically polarized world.

Good news on Washington's annual average wage and national employment numbers, plus new state transportation reforms become law.

We discuss the big-ticket items in the 2015-17 state operating budget (K-12 funding, higher ed tuition cuts, early learning, mental health and more) and how it's paid for.

There's no government shutdown, but no end of session either. We go over what's done and what needs to get done in Olympia.

We give an overview of the newly passed and signed 2015-17 state operating budget, and analyze revenue changes and key spending items.

The governor and legislature reached a budget deal that garnered wide bipartisan support.