Encourage more businesses to relocate to Washington
Encourage more businesses to relocate to Washington by reduce state taxes and encouraging counties to reduce their taxes.
48 votes
I disagreeEncourage more businesses to relocate to Washington by reduce state taxes and encouraging counties to reduce their taxes.
20 votes
I disagreeCancel all tax give away's to businesses and make them justify their exemptions in a open public process before they are allowed again. This is one of the most unaccountable and wasteful types of spending the legislatures participates in. These exemptions are often never openly debated, are not reviewed, and continue in perpetuity regardless of whether they create jobs.
20 votes
I disagreePretty simple idea. There is a lot to be done in many different areas. I think the oil-age will near certainly be over 50 years from now due to new technology.
18 votes
I disagreeFully support the WorkForce Training Board, and the related WorkSource programs. Both of these are essential to ensuring our economic future by training people for the jobs in their community.
11 votes
I disagreeIf one were to cite strictly economic rationale for gay marriage, there is a great case to be made for it. Weddings create revenue of all sorts. States and local governments benefit from marriage licenses. Venues get booked and paid for, while hotels, restaurants and retail outlets also see sales rise. Even vacation spots get a nice dose of business from the honeymooning couple. Five states now allow same-sex marriage; ...more »
If one were to cite strictly economic rationale for gay marriage, there is a great case to be made for it. Weddings create revenue of all sorts. States and local governments benefit from marriage licenses. Venues get booked and paid for, while hotels, restaurants and retail outlets also see sales rise. Even vacation spots get a nice dose of business from the honeymooning couple.
Five states now allow same-sex marriage; it’s only a matter of time before Civil Unions become marriages. It’s better to reap the benefits now to help us get out of the recession than wait for no particularly good reason.
Forbes magazine says an immediate windfall of about $17 billion could be had if gay marriage were made legal nationally. The magazine conducted the analysis several years ago and determined that "one thing is abundantly clear: Legalizing same-sex marriages would mean a windfall for the wedding industry." Weddings are a $70 billion-a-year business.
If you look carefully through the numbers, the thing that actually makes the numbers work in gay marriage's favor is the caring of one person for another. When people show they care, they spend -- on gifts, dinners, weekend getaways. On the other end of the spectrum, when people are in need and there is someone there to care for them, they are less reliant on social services.
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10 votes
I disagreeI was shocked six years ago after I moved to Washington from California and discovered that my health care insurance had gone up by 5 times for the same coverage. When I asked my health care insurance provider, they said because the cost of health care in Washington is higher. No kidding. A little further investigation revealed that the reason that health care costs are higher in Washington is because Washington does ...more »
I was shocked six years ago after I moved to Washington from California and discovered that my health care insurance had gone up by 5 times for the same coverage. When I asked my health care insurance provider, they said because the cost of health care in Washington is higher. No kidding. A little further investigation revealed that the reason that health care costs are higher in Washington is because Washington does not have a tort limit and has minimal regulation of the health insurance companies. Not only would the State save millions in health care coverage for its employee by taking care of this huge problem, they would reduce the load on our court system saving even more. Such a move would have a huge positive affect on health care in the State. Doctors and hospitals could reduce their practice of defensive medicine, more doctors would set up their practice in the State and businesses would be more competitive and have a healthier work force. They could even grow their business and add jobs. Everybody wins - except the lawyers. I never thought I would find something that cost more outside of California except vegatables.
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3 votes
I disagreeRun light rail down 99 and I-5, no more lanes and no special lanes for light rail....make it a law, that drivers cannot impede light rail during busy times!
0 votes
I disagreeSustainable Economic Stimulus Grant. Encourage the development of sustainable economic models via restrictive grants. For example, hold a statewide recipe contest to foster the development of a portfolio of food products which primarily contain agriculture grown here in Washington (ala Aplets and Cotlets). Subsequently, solicit business plan submissions to develop, manufacture, and market these products on a local ...more »
Sustainable Economic Stimulus Grant.
Encourage the development of sustainable economic models via restrictive grants. For example, hold a statewide recipe contest to foster the development of a portfolio of food products which primarily contain agriculture grown here in Washington (ala Aplets and Cotlets). Subsequently, solicit business plan submissions to develop, manufacture, and market these products on a local and/or national level. A restricted grant would then be offered to fund the enterprise, with restrictive caveats pertaining to the company's state of domicile (Washington), transfer of ownership, manufacturing restrictions (made in Washington) and so forth.
Some might scoff at the idea of a public / private partnership. However, this isn't much different than a broadly focused revitalization loan or other incentive based initiatives focused on creating and/or keeping jobs in our state. Nor is it the idea above radically different than a co-op model.
Thank you.
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-11 votes
I disagreeCreate new JOBS By creating a state bond fund to start a new gold mine owned partly by the state and another bond fund to start hydrogen collection plants and fuel stations in the state of Washington and electerice car recharging stations. Under Washington state constitution the water is under our control and can be used for this.
-11 votes
I disagreeAllow private industry to bid on the opportunity to take over the prison system and in turn allow them the opportunity to rent out prisoner labor to other industry for manufacturing or service jobs which are in no way in direct contact with the public. As an example, a ficticious company "ProtectCo" wins the bid through competitive process to take over the prison system in WA State. This cost to the State would be less ...more »
Allow private industry to bid on the opportunity to take over the prison system and in turn allow them the opportunity to rent out prisoner labor to other industry for manufacturing or service jobs which are in no way in direct contact with the public.
As an example, a ficticious company "ProtectCo" wins the bid through competitive process to take over the prison system in WA State. This cost to the State would be less than the cost to manage the prison system with State employees. So the State saves money while still getting the same (or better) level of service currently offered.
"ProtectCo" then offers up screened prisoners with varying skills through a program much like a Labor Ready service. Boeing, for example, might have skilled jobs, such as sewing seat cushion materials, or packaging bolts into containers, etc. which could be cheaper than having the jobs outsourced to China but still cheaper for Boeing than hiring non-prisoners. The program would educate and train prisoners, giving them a leg up when they are paroled, but also a portion of the wages could be used as reparations to the costs of prosecuting their crimes and to victims.
Safeguards could be in-place to keep the lower-cost prisoner jobs from competing with skilled tradespeople - one would not want to see higher-paid skilled jobs shifted from a non-prisoner to a prisoner workforce.
Another possibility is to allow "ProtectCo" to offer up prisoner laborers for pot hole and litter patrols State-wide to beautify the State of WA.
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-32 votes
I disagreeWe could secure jobs and investment if we spent more money luring production companies to Washington State. Reduce the bureaucracy and simplify the permitting process. Film making could bring millions in economic development to the state. Currently, that business goes elsewhere because we do not invest in Washington.
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