Stories by Jason Mercier
121 stories
Opinion: Government propaganda or transparency? Lawsuit filed against income tax repeal ballot language
A lawsuit challenges ballot language warning of education cuts from a tax not set to collect revenue until 2029.
Opinion: State policies matter for taxpayers and the business climate
Washington job growth is weaker than expected while Idaho and Montana rank among the nation's least regulated states.
Opinion: Lawsuit filed against the unconstitutional income tax in Washington state
Former Attorney General Rob McKenna and Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge challenge the 9. 9% income tax in Klickitat Superior Court.
Opinion: Washington state is blowing up its no-income-tax advantage
Lawmakers advanced SB 6346 with an emergency clause, aiming to end Washington’s no-income-tax reputation and prevent voters from seeking a referendum.
Opinion: Washington’s Supreme Court hides the ball on state employee compensation offers
Jason Mercier criticizes the Washington Supreme Court’s decision to uphold secrecy in public employee compensation talks, calling for transparency reforms and public accountability.
Opinion: Governors and members of Congress tell the President not to restrict consumer choice of vehicles
Republican Governors across the country sent President Biden a letter on January 22 in opposition to proposed federal rules they say would unduly restrict the vehicle options available to Americans…
Opinion: Several tax repeal proposals may be on the ballot in Washington state for 2024
Jason Mercier of the Mountain States Policy Center provides an overview of the tax repeal proposals that will likely be on the ballot in Washington state in 2024.
Opinion: A taxpayer receipt would help provide a snapshot of government spending
Jason Mercier of the Mountain States Policy Center discusses the concept of providing an itemized receipt for taxpayers about their tax dollars and it relates to government.
Importance of open government laws on display with shocking stories
Jason Mercier of the Mountain States Policy Center discusses two recent stories that illustrate the lengths that some public officials will go to evade public accountability.
Opinion: An income tax on capital gains won’t bring revenue stability
Taking effect for the first time this year, Washington is now the only state in the country to impose a standalone income tax on capital gains.
Opinion: A declaration for self-governance heard around the world
Jason Mercier states ‘our republic is worth keeping and celebrating but its future depends on all of us working together to protect it by adhering to the principles and framework loudly declared 24…
Opinion: New bill proposes open government ombuds study
The bill would authorize a legislative task force to study the creation of an office to help provide a nonpartisan and independent resource for citizens to access public records.
Opinion: Just in time to avoid 2/3 vote requirement, new property tax increase bill introduced
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center shares the latest efforts by the majority party to raise taxes on Washington residents.
Opinion: Seattle kicks the tires on local capital gains excise (income) tax
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center asks will other local governments instead take the opposite approach and install income tax speed bumps by joining the 28 municipalities with bans?
Opinion: New bill proposes ‘excise tax’ on compensation
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center says it’s best to take away the excise tax cookie while we still can.
Judge issues important contract transparency public records ruling
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center explains that state and local government employment contracts should not be negotiated in secret.
Opinion: Early response to Washington’s capital gains excise tax (AKA income tax) court ruling
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center offers reactions from around the state on the state Supreme Court decision on the capital gains income tax.
Opinion: Washington versus the world on capital gains income taxes
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center will ‘still stand with the rest of the planet in the clear understanding that excise taxes aren’t applied to income – those are called income taxes. ’
Opinion: Slower revenue increase is still an increase
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center offers his explanation of what the bottom line is for writers of the state budget.
Opinion: Washington’s emergency powers statute ranked 45th worst nationally for legislative oversight
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center believes we didn’t need a national study to tell us that Washington’s emergency powers statute is badly lacking checks and balances and meaningful legi…
Opinion: Emergency powers reform dies again without even receiving a public hearing
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center explains why our system of governance is not meant to be the arbitrary rule of one behind closed doors.
Opinion: Where’s the love for taxpayers this Valentine’s Day?
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center believes it seems the tax love in Washington knows only one direction, to infinity and beyond.
Opinion: Beware of property tax relief trojan horses
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center points out that Washington voters have rejected 10 straight income tax proposals, including six proposed constitutional amendments.
Opinion: Lawmakers consider inflation fix for state’s death tax
Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center shares that whether or not Washington has a death tax, ensuring an operable inflation index to avoid bracket creep should be an easy call for lawmakers.
Showing the 24 most recent of 121.