Video of whale trainer's death doesn't need to be made public - The recent and tragic death of a SeaWorld trainer, who died in the jaws of a killer whale, was so bizarre it captured the nation's attention. It is normal to be interested as well as horrified by this type of tragedy. But do we need to see the raw video...MORE...
Lawmakers should not be paid more for extra session - When state lawmakers convened in Olympia in January they had 60 days to reach agreement on how to deal with a $2.8 billion revenue shortfall in the current budget. They failed.And, as a result, Gov. Chris Gregoire has called senators and representatives b...MORE...
Estate tax of 55 percent will destroy businesses - The Republican-controlled Congress in 2001 made a wise and responsible decision to phase out the estate tax over the next decade. Today the inheritance tax -- or death tax -- has been replaced with a capital-gains tax on the sale of some inherited assets....MORE...
Option to pay property taxes automatically benefits all - Taxes are necessary to pay for schools, roads, law enforcement and all of the other services we expect from government.But paying those taxes is rarely pleasant. And sometimes it is downright painful. Consider property taxes. A hefty sum -- several thousa...MORE...
Legislators have no excuse for not getting done on time - Legislators knew they had a huge task in front of them. Going into a special session is a waste of $20,000 a day....MORE...
Long-term prison planning needed for state - When money is tight, prudent financial planning is essential. It means attempting to look beyond today to make smart long-term decisions that are cost effective....MORE...
Advertisement