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Washington Roundtable 2005 Policy Agenda
Renewed prosperity
depends on whether
Washington state adapts to the changing competitive environment.
The Washington
Roundtable calls on policymakers to encourage job creation and
recharge the state economy by:
As
Washington’s economy begins to rebound, pressing economic and fiscal
challenges lie ahead. Prosperity for communities, businesses and
individuals will stem from fiscal stability, investments in critical
infrastructure, a better educated workforce, top-tier research
institutions and regulatory reforms.
We’ve made significant strides to improve the state’s fiscal
structures, recharge the business climate and improve our K-12
education system via standards-based reform. Washington still faces
significant budget shortfalls and barriers to job creation that
limit opportunities to extend economic recovery across the state.
Washington’s economy has changed fundamentally and the road to
renewed prosperity can only be built on the foundation laid down
over the past two years. Our state has emerged from a severe
economic downturn with a new sense of reality, a better sense of the
constantly changing nature of our competitive environment and a new
vision of what must be done to keep moving forward. Now we must fuel
that vision with action.
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Institutionalize the Priorities of
Government (POG) process and leverage it to develop the 2005-07
biennial budget.
Washington
has faced major budget shortfalls over the past two biennia stemming
from recession and unsustainable spending commitments authorized by
the Legislature and the voters via the initiative process. State
lawmakers addressed these challenges in 2003 by enacting a biennial
budget focused on purchasing the highest priority services at the
best possible price. A good first step to be sure, but
Washington's
fiscal problems are not over.
Despite signs of economic recovery,
Washington
faces a projected shortfall for the 2005-07 biennium in excess of
$1.5 billion and current reserve levels are woefully inadequate to
cover unforeseen emergencies. The governor and the Legislature
must expand and deepen the commitment to priorities-based budgeting
because it is the best means to address fiscal challenges and
deliver priority services to Washington citizens at the best
possible price.
To promote fiscal stability, policymakers must:
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Institutionalize the POG process and enact a results-based – not
incremental – 2005-07 biennial budget that avoids unsustainable
spending, uses current revenues to purchase and deliver priority
services, evaluates dedicated funds as well as the General Fund
and avoids further dedication.
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Address the
impact of health care inflation on the state budget and bring
state health care spending per capita in line with the average of
Western states.
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Rebuild the
state reserve to five percent of the General Fund biennial budget
over the next two biennia.
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Target high-impact
transportation projects.
Washington's
woefully inadequate transportation infrastructure continues to
hamper the state’s economic recovery.
To address the urgent need for improvements in the state’s
transportation system, policymakers must:
-
Invest in
high-priority, high-impact projects.
-
Align
governance and establish accountability provisions to maximize the
impact of new investment.
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Roundtable's Economic Climate policy position]
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Support continued performance
enhancements for the state research universities.
The
University of Washington and Washington State University are
powerful drivers of economic growth and way of life in our state.
Washington must provide incentives to these institutions and their
faculties to maximize their contributions to improved state economic
outcomes.
To maximize the benefit from Washington’s research universities,
policymakers must:
-
Enact
performance contracts between the state and its research
institutions that detail institution-specific priorities, the
responsibilities of each party and quantifiable performance
measures and benchmarks.
-
Enhance
research and ensure its subsequent commercialization in order to
create economic benefits to
Washington.
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Ensure a quality K-12 education
for all Washington students through continued dedication to
standards-based education reform.
Because of the close link between academic skills and future
economic opportunities, the Roundtable has consistently sought to
strengthen the effectiveness of the state’s K-12 and higher
education systems. The Certificate of Academic Achievement
represents the minimum skills and knowledge that all students need
to earn the high school diploma. It does not define readiness for
college or high-demand workplaces. The state must require
demonstration of essential knowledge and skills and improve the
alignment between the K-12 and higher education sectors.
To continue the drive toward meaningful K-12 education reform,
policymakers must:
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Maintain the
commitment to upgrading the diploma to include demonstration of
knowledge and skills in core subjects via the Certificate of
Academic Achievement graduation requirement.
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Implement
the system requirements included in HB 2195, including funding of
retakes, development of an alternative to the WASL and appropriate
remediation.
-
Address
additional K-12 reform elements not included in HB 2195 but
outlined in the Washington Roundtable’s “Students Can’t Wait”
action plan:
-
Consolidate
and refocus state education governance to clarify roles and
responsibilities.
-
Overhaul
existing mechanisms for training, supporting and paying teachers
to align with skills-based education reform.
-
Provide
principals with the skills, support and authority to lead high
performing schools.
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Use WASL
results as part of the admissions, scholarship and placement
processes at the state’s two- and four-year colleges and
universities.
-
Define the
skills and knowledge – beyond the state’s 10th grade
standards – that are required for success in postsecondary
education and align entrance requirements.
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Reform the state’s
regulatory, workers’ compensation and liability systems.
Policymakers made progress toward improving
Washington’s
business climate during the past two years. However, competing
states and nations are acting aggressively to stimulate job
creation. Policymakers must act decisively to preserve private
sector jobs and secure new investment. To avoid a return to
increasing unemployment and shrinking state revenues, lawmakers must
make the cost of doing business in Washington competitive.
To improve Washington’s competitiveness and control spiraling costs,
policymakers must:
-
Establish
an Office of Regulatory Reform, overseen by a cabinet-level
director, authorized to review all regulations and require
cost-benefit analysis for proposed regulations, streamline
permitting and promote business development while maintaining
essential environmental, health and safety precautions.
-
Enact
significant liability reforms to bring fairness and certainty to
the civil justice system, speed resolution of civil actions and
reduce frivolous lawsuits and costs.
-
Reform the
workers’ compensation system to reduce long-term cost growth,
promote worker health and retraining and encourage faster returns
to work.
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Expand the
ability of employers based in Washington to compete successfully,
both locally and globally, and avoid restrictions on market access
or outsourcing.
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