Mark Harmsworth says Washington is a fantastic place to live. If the legislature and governor’s office would help small businesses succeed, it would also be a great place to do business
Mark Harmsworth
Washington Policy Center
We published several reports recently that show Washington is one of the worst states in the nation to do business. However, in one case the data the Washington Policy Center highlighted was so damning the publishing organization has decided to take down the data for Washington.
The left leaning Center for American Progress who normally champion progressive tax policy showed a very brown Washington on an interactive map, indicating how bad it was to do business in Washington, but now, according to their website ‘the state changed the way it reported the number of employers of state-funded home health aides’ and the data has been removed.
The new map, which you can see below, now excludes Washington.
Ironically, the very reason home health aids are no longer considered small business in Washington is because the state passed a controversial bill (Senate Bill 6199) that unionized home workers. SB 6199 required home workers, taking care of their own family members in their own homes, to join the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The bill was forced through the legislature and in dramatic fashion, the entire minority party walked off the floor when the majority party would not let them speak on the bill. The vote was 50-0 with 48 representatives not voting.
The unionization requirement passed by the state legislature is another example of the state overreaching and destroying small businesses. Washington is clearly struggling compared to the rest of the county, including Idaho and Oregon.
It is clear from the map that Washington’s anti-business approach to taxation, regulation and instability in fiscal policy isn’t attracting businesses to put down roots in Washington. Washington’s largest counties, such as King, Pierce, Snohomish, Clark, and Spokane, all experienced negative private business growth rates over the four-year period of the study.
Removing entire business sectors through over regulation and trying to ignore the facts also isn’t helping attract new business to Washington.
Washington is a fantastic place to live. If the legislature and governor’s office would help small businesses succeed, it would also be a great place to do business.
For more Washington Policy Centers recommendations, read the whitepaper that describes the simple changes that would have an immediate impact on the business climate and job growth in Washington.
Mark Harmsworth is the director of the Small Business Center at the Washington Policy Center.
Also read:
- Letter: ‘HSD needs to give a detailed line-item accounting of where the last levy went, and of how they plan to use this one’
Randall Schultz-Rathbun urges Hockinson School District to provide detailed, transparent accounting of past and proposed levy spending before asking voters for additional funds. - Letter: Interstate Bridge Replacement’s Park & Ride insanity
Bob Ortblad criticizes the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s proposed Park & Ride garages, arguing the costs are excessive and unlikely to receive federal funding. - Opinion: Vancouver councilors responsible for stoking irrational fears in the community
Clark County Today Editor Ken Vance sharply criticizes a Vancouver City Council declaration on immigration enforcement, arguing it fuels fear, undermines law enforcement, and lacks supporting evidence. - Opinion: Washington should stop shielding domestic abusers and sexual offenders from deportation
Vancouver attorney Angus Lee argues Washington law improperly shields convicted domestic abusers, sexual offenders, and drunk drivers from deportation and urges lawmakers to change it. - Opinion: Who is leaving Washington and why the politicians need to care
Mark Harmsworth argues Washington is losing higher-income taxpayers and business owners, warning that rising taxes and regulation threaten long-term economic stability.
