Heidi Stanley and Wayne Williams: Research, voter involvement key to good public policy

Benjamin Franklin said an investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

In Washington, we are fortunate to have several organizations that serve the public interest with high-quality research and information. One has an office right here in Spokane: the Washington Policy Center .

As volunteer board members of WPC, we think you should know how valuable this organization is to the people in Spokane and in all Eastern Washington.

The research work of WPC covers six issues: education, environment, government reform, health care, transportation and small business. Washington Policy Center is 100 percent funded by the voluntary generosity of thousands of people across our state. It receives no taxpayer funding.

Recently, WPC published several well-documented and popular research pieces on the Spokane Transit Authority’s proposal to build a $72 million electric trolley in Spokane. The proposal was one project in the STA Proposition 1 ballot measure. As always, WPC research publications are available for free at washingtonpolicy.org.

WPC produces thoughtful analysis of tax increase proposals placed before voters, including last year’s Spokane streets bond proposition, a measure we called a “clear and creative plan to fix the city’s streets.” In Benton County, our research found a sales tax proposal for public safety would allow “law enforcement to focus more on proactive crime fighting and get ahead of growing gang activity.”

WPC has stood with local citizens when they said – five different times –that they wanted a supermajority requirement to raise taxes. Voters in Spokane passed our recommendation to adopt a supermajority requirement to raise taxes in the city. It didn’t make tax increases impossible, but it did require more thoughtful discussion before they were implemented. Most importantly, it followed the will of voters.

Throughout the legislative session, WPC has been taking the lead on keeping Eastern Washington involved in the legislative process. It is because of WPC that Eastern Washingtonians can now testify before some legislative committees on a remote basis without having to travel all the way to Olympia.

This year, WPC has hosted 12 ‘Wake-Up Forums’ using video-conferencing to connect legislators to hundreds of citizens in communities across Eastern Washington. Democratic and Republican lawmakers from across the state participate in the free weekly events.

For years, many Washington parents have wanted public school choice. WPC produced eye-opening research and recommended opening charter schools in our state. Now, Spokane will be home to two popular charter schools: PRIDE Prep and the Spokane International Academy. Both held lotteries and have waiting lists because so many students want to attend.

Policy ideas have consequences in people’s lives. We need clear, factual research and analysis to ensure the policy decisions we make as a community and as a state serve the public interest and all people in Washington.