In this 90 Seconds episode we highlight some of the key elements of Gov. Jay Inslee's proposed 2017-2019 state operating budget.

You can read our report on the governor's plan here: http://researchcouncil.org/files/docs/2017/01/govop1719.pdf

In this 90 Seconds episode we briefly cover our recent report on Washington businesses' tax contributions to state and local governments, and our state's high rankings for the tax burdens it places on business.

You can read the full report here: http://researchcouncil.org/files/docs/2017/01/cost-tf_2017.pdf

In this 90 Seconds episode we give a quick summary of one of our recent reports, "The Economic Contribution of Washington State's Petroleum Refining Industry in 2015."

You can read the report here: http://researchcouncil.org/files/docs/2017/01/2016_refinery_report_010417.pdf

In this 90 Seconds episode we give you a quick update on where things stand on the McCleary decision, which requires the state to fully fund basic education, including highlights of proposals currently being considered by state lawmakers.

On today's InFocus podcast we're covering the latest news, including our new Policy Brief on business taxation in Washington state. Washington businesses pay 58 percent of state and local taxes, and have some of the highest tax burdens in the country. We also talk about the latest state budget outlook, and problems many school districts are facing with Washington's land-use law, the Growth Management Act.

(Note: after we recorded this podcast, state Senate Republicans released their proposal for funding K-12 education. Here is The Seattle Times' article on it: http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/state-senate-gop-releases-sweeping-schools-funding-plan/ And here is an article from The News Tribune of Tacoma: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/politics-government/article129141854.html)

On tap today is our new Special Report on Gov. Jay Inslee's proposed state budget for 2017-19. We go in depth on the governor's proposals for more than $4.7 billion in new spending and more than $4.3 billion in new and increased taxes.

To read the report, click here: http://researchcouncil.org/files/docs/2017/01/govop1719.pdf

Visit our website here: http://researchcouncil.org/

Our last podcast of the year is in a pub, with special guest David Postman, Gov. Jay Inslee's chief of staff. We sit down over beers (and a Coke for Postman, who's on cold meds) at the delightful Hopvine Pub in Seattle to chat about Postman's career in journalism and now government, as well as what's in store for the upcoming legislative session.

Today's topic is the expanded state environmental regulations that, due to their arbitrary and excessive nature, threaten to send good-paying jobs - many of them union jobs - out of Washington state. We briefly discuss our recent Special Report on this topic ("The Expanded SEPA Has Reduced Regulatory Certainty in Washington"), then talk with Larry Brown, Legislative & Political Director of Aerospace Machinists Union District Lodge 751, about how the state's actions are negatively affecting union jobs.

For more on our report, click here: http://researchcouncil.org/2016/10/24/special-report-expanded-state-environmental-regulations-have-negative-impacts-for-washington

This week Gov. Jay Inslee proposed a state operating budget for 2017-19. It would increase spending by $8.2 billion over the previous biennium - including $3.9 billion more for K-12 education - and raise taxes by $4.4 billion. His tax proposal includes a new capital gains tax. We delve into the details in this podcast.

You can read our quick analysis of his budget proposal here: http://researchcouncil.org/2016/12/14/gov-inslee%E2%80%99s-proposed-budget-would-increase-spending-by-82-billion

Our quick analysis of his education funding proposal is here: http://researchcouncil.org/2016/12/13/gov-inslee%E2%80%99s-education-proposal-would-increase-spending-by-39-billion-and-add-44-billion-in-new-taxes

Our February 2015 Policy Brief on Gov. Inslee's previous capital gains tax proposal is here: https://researchcouncil.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/insleecapitalgainstaxfinal.pdf

New state revenue numbers are out, with good news for the state budget. However, there's still a big budget hole to fill in order to comply with the McCleary ruling, which requires full state funding of basic K-12 education by 2018. We also discuss new employment numbers, as well as the Obama administration overtime rule that's been suspended by a court order, and the latest on the City of Seattle's moves toward more restrictive regulations on employers.

Here's a link to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics release on national employment numbers: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

Here's a link to Washington state's Monthly Employment Report from the state Employment Security Department: https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/employmentdata/docs/economic-reports/current-monthly-employment-report

Here's the most recent Economic & Revenue Update from the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council: http://www.erfc.wa.gov/publications/documents/nov16.pdf

Here's our blog post, Labor policy reprieves, in Seattle and the nation: http://researchcouncil.org/2016/11/23/labor-policy-reprieves-in-seattle-and-the-nation

And here's our blog post on the City of Seattle's job-scheduling mandate: http://researchcouncil.org/2016/09/19/seattles-new-job-scheduling-mandate-union-recruiting-tool