Politics
Advice to budget writers: Cut the sustainability rhetoric
Neither Democrats nor Republicans have created a budget that would start Washington state on an even footing for the next two years.
Dick Nelson
Dick Nelson is a former Washington State legislator. He currently contributes to the public debate on state and local fiscal issues through research and commentary. As when he was in the legislature,
Latest work
Seattle & King County
Occupy Seattle: How a crowd is forming a reasonable agenda
Two days of visits show some very relevant demands, along with room for improvement.
Politics
How a South Korean trade pact would impact the Northwest
The free-trade agreement is getting close, though the politics is still divisive. Here's a look at how strong are the trade bonds between the Northwest and this Asian tiger, and it's far more than jetliners.
Culture
How to turn our weather into a tourism asset
Cool in the summer? Mild the year around? Folks, we can make this sound pretty good to most of the country. Probably without trying very hard.
Politics
Congress' decisions on debt and deficit could create havoc locally
Candidates for governor pay attention: The debt-limit fight could send us scrambling for new answers to how to finance and conduct state business. Here's a primer on how dependent we are on federal expenditures.