Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. In this video, we'll hear from Communications Director Dave Boze and Communications Manager Donald Kimball discussing free speech, data privacy laws, and the intersection of both. 


00:00 - Introduction
00:31 - Linking free speech and data privacy
00:54 - Reaction to Charlie Kirk’s killing & online responses
02:13 - Polls on political violence
03:11 - Campus incidents & enforcement double standards
05:41 - Pam Bondi remark; “misinformation” & censorship risks
10:20 - Responsibility in rhetoric
12:09 - WA hate-speech hotline pilot & cultural risks
13:38 - WPC Report Card; where WA is falling behind
17:59 - Radical transparency
19:49 - Data privacy unintended consequences
22:07 - Case study: women-only app verification breach
24:05 - UK age-verification; VPN debate & circumvention
26:36 - WA kids’ online-safety bill fix
27:42 - Limits of “pass a law” thinking
31:15 - Stakes of data exposure


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Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. In this video, we'll hear from Elizabeth New, our Center for Health Care and Center for Worker Rights Director, and Charles Prestrud, our Center for Transportation Director.

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Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. In this video, we'll hear from Dr. Robert Marbut, the former federal homelessness czar and upcoming speaker for our Eastern Washington Annual Dinner!

00:00 - Introduction
00:34 - Marbut’s background and national experience  
01:18 - San Antonio’s Haven for Hope success story  
03:09 - Spokane homelessness: new research overview  
04:00 - Why Spokane is struggling despite more spending  
05:26 - Asking the right question: what’s the problem?  
07:33 - Drucker’s advice: define the problem before the solution  
08:29 - Key stat: 50% of Spokane’s homeless came from elsewhere  
12:26 - Why people *really* come to Spokane 
14:11 - Permissive enforcement and lack of police presence  
15:37 - What really causes homelessness? HUD’s 10 categories  
17:21 - Street-level homelessness: addiction and mental illness  
20:21 - Cities succeeding by focusing on treatment and recovery  
22:53 - Case study: West Tampa vs. East Tampa  
23:53 - Small city success: Fort Smith, Arkansas  
25:15 - What Spokane will look like in 4 years without change  
27:11 - Surprising indicator: dogs on the street predict violence  
28:37 - Spokane’s rising fentanyl death rate  
30:51 - New executive order on homelessness and drug policy  
33:14 - Ending taxpayer-funded drug enablement  
34:50 - How the EO flips the script: easier treatment, harder drugs  

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Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. This episode features special guest Kurt Miller, Executive Director and CEO of the Northwest Public Power Association, and WPC Vice President for Research Todd Myers as they discuss energy policy and sustainability. 
00:00 – Introduction

00:25 – Who is NWPPA? What “public power” means  
01:12 – Size of public‑power footprint in WA vs OR  
01:42 – How WA’s grid has changed in 30 years  
02:26 – Wind boom: 10 GW built & new variability  
03:29 – Electrification mandates and doubling demand  
04:44 – Data‑center / AI load tsunami  
05:29 – Near‑miss blackouts & WECC warning  
06:19 – Are political mandates killing reliability?  
09:01 – Hydro’s balancing role vs wind/solar gaps  
11:02 – Battery limits during 5‑day heat/cold waves  
12:57 – Rural utilities & rate‑shock worries  
14:28 – 80% vs 100% decarbonization cost curve  
18:19 – Practical fixes: replace like‑for‑like capacity  
21:17 – Audience Q&A: Spain/Portugal outage & China costs
24:45 – Explaining “resource adequacy” and planning gaps
27:28 – How investor-owned utilities differ from public utilities
30:12 – California’s policy influence on Washington decisions
33:40 – Problems with Washington’s “clean energy” mandates
36:14 – Why capacity is being retired before replacements are ready
39:01 – Energy policy disconnect: planning vs. reality
42:05 – BPA’s future and federal hydro role
45:02 – Can the Northwest grid survive electrification + AI demand?

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Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. This episode features special guest Corey DeAngelis, Executive Director of the Education Freedom Institute, and WPC Education Director Vicki Murray as they discuss school choice in the nation and at home.

00:00 - Introduction  
00:27 - Washington's education report card  
01:13 - Performance drop in core subjects  
02:14 - Washington's spending vs results  
02:43 - Mississippi outperforms Washington  
03:31 - Cory DeAngelis joins the discussion  
04:29 - Role of ideology in poor outcomes  
05:17 - Florida's school choice success  
06:16 - Responding to common objections  
10:09 - Special needs and school choice  
13:17 - Political shifts on education  
15:12 - School choice impact on elections  
16:20 - Teachers unions' political power  
20:18 - Administrative bloat in education  
23:09 - NEA resolutions and priorities  
27:18 - Real solutions: freedom to choose  
29:20 - State trends and school choice surge  
32:51 - Federal school choice provision  
37:24 - Homeschooling and regulation fears  
41:38 - Hope for Washington reform

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Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. This episode features WPC Center for Health Care and Center for Worker Rights Director Elizabeth New outlining how Washington state has made driving up your medical costs its business. 

00:00 - Introduction & Guest Overview  
02:00 - More People Should Pay Directly for Health Care  
04:00 - How Health Care Payment Models Changed Over Time  
05:30 - Third-Party Payment Distorts Prices  
07:00 - The Myth of Free Market Health Care in the U.S.  
08:45 - Successful Market-Based Models Like Oklahoma Surgery Center  
10:05 - Cost Shifting from Medicaid to Private Payers  
12:00 - Legislative Examples of Health Care Cost Shifting  
14:30 - Medicaid Expansion and Eligibility Abuse  
16:45 - Hidden Costs and Double Payments in Medicaid  
18:45 - Assessing the 2024 Legislative Session’s Health Policy  
20:15 - New Universal Health Care Push in Washington State  
22:30 - Doctor Shortages and Wait Times Under Government Health Care  
27:00 - Janus Decision Anniversary & Public Union Rights  
34:45 - Looming Federal Reforms and WA’s Reliance on Provider Taxes  
36:15 - Government Opt-Out Restrictions & Lack of Janus Awareness  
38:10 - Dues Withholding & Lack of Transparency for Public Workers  
42:30 - Public Unions Still Politicizing Member Money  
44:00 - What Washington Workers Can Do to Reclaim Rights  

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Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. This episode features Small Business Director Mark Harmsworth detailing the mass exodus from Seattle and the hurtful policy impacts of minimum wage increases, estate taxes, and more. 

00:00 - Introduction
00:51 - Seattle and Washington outmigration
01:36 - PODS data and signs of people leaving
03:26 - Tax impact on outmigration
06:04 - Policy-driven cost increases
08:49 - Cumulative tax effects on affordability
11:21 - 2025 session tax changes overview
14:08 - Housing and document fee taxes
15:24 - Capital gains clawback question
16:57 - What taxes might return next session
19:18 - Potential corporate relocations
21:05 - Minimum wage impact and blog insights
24:25 - Rent control and property owner restrictions
30:17 - Tenant screening restrictions and market risk

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Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. This episode features Executive Vice President of BIAW Greg Lane to discuss Washington's housing policy.

00:00 - Legislative Session Wrap-Up
00:35 - Largest Tax Hike & Measuring Policy Outcomes
01:16 - Guest Intro: Greg Lane on Housing Crisis
01:44 - Why Housing is Unaffordable in Washington
02:32 - Housing Map: Urban vs Rural Affordability
04:03 - Only 20% Can Afford a Median-Priced Home
08:25 - WA's National Ranking & 250,000 Unit Deficit
09:41 - Regulatory Costs and Growth Management Constraints
11:20 - Slide: Housing Facts Overview
18:58 - Cost of Regulation Breakdown
31:40 - Legislative Solutions: HB 1096, HB 1403, SB 5148
46:18 - Initiative 2066 Legal Battle Update

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Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. This episode focuses on some of the challenges facing our agricultural sector in Washington and a major win on the gas tax increase. 

00:00 - Introduction
00:36 - Young Professionals program and events
02:22 - Mentorship and getting involved
05:02 - Spokane environmental forum preview
06:22 - Mental health crisis in farming
10:20 - Bankruptcy and economic stress in ag
16:10 - Gray wolf population and management plan
20:59 - Local control vs. outside pressure
26:18 - Should we move the wolves?
28:49 - Beef Month and Meatless Mondays debate
32:57 - HB 1912: Farm fuel tax fix explained
39:00 - What ag policies still need fixing?
44:24 - Wrap-up and what's next



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Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. This episode focuses on the newly signed rent control bill as well as the looming budget to be signed. 

00:00 - Introduction & show overview
00:28 - Governor Ferguson signs rent control bill (HB 1217)
02:13 - How rent control impacts property owners
05:00 - Consequences for small vs. large landlords
07:05 - Rent caps and tenant turnover effects
11:53 - Future rent control expansions likely
12:42 - International case study: Argentina
14:24 - Housing supply vs. rent policy
17:01 - The budget: record spending and taxes
22:09 - Hidden spending, DEI, and carbon cost breakdown
26:01 - Capital gains & B&O tax consequences
30:26 - Impact on small business & business flight
36:32 - Outstanding bills & final takeaways

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