Washington Policy Center

Washington Policy Center
MissionWPC improves lives of Washingtonians by promoting high-quality, non-partisan, evidence-based research to advance policy solutions for a better Washington state[1]
ChairGreg Porter
President and CEOSteven Hatting
Staff25
Budget$3.4 million (2021)[2]
Formerly calledWashington Institute Foundation[3]
Location
Seattle, Washington
Websitewww.washingtonpolicy.org

The Washington Policy Center (WPC) is a think tank based in the state of Washington.[4][5] The organization's stated mission is "to advocate for government transparency and accountability, as well as to improve lives by promoting sound public policy based on free-market solutions."[1] It has a statewide staff of approximately 25 and offices in Seattle and Spokane. The organization is divided into eight research centers: Agriculture, Education, Environment, Government Reform, Health Care, Small Business, Transportation, and Worker Rights. WPC is an affiliate of the State Policy Network, a nonprofit organization that serves as a network for conservative and libertarian think tanks focusing on state-level policy in the United States.[6]

WPC operated a free public-service website, WashingtonVotes.org, which tracked what bills state legislators introduce and support.[7] WashingtonVotes.org provided a roll call service to state media outlets while the legislature is in session.[8][9]

The organization uncovered an error in Sound Transit's defense in a $500 million class-action lawsuit filed by taxpayers regarding the collection of car tab tax charges. The state Attorney General's office acknowledged the error and declined to take Sound Transit's side in the case, pulling out just one hour prior to a scheduled hearing before the State Supreme Court.[10] The constitutionality of the car-tab collection levied by Sound Transit was upheld by the State Supreme Court in February 2020.[11]

  1. ^ a b "About Washington Policy Center". Washington Policy Center. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Washington Policy Center - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Washington Institute changes name". Puget Sound Business Journal. June 21, 2001. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  4. ^ Baker, Mike (5 January 2020). "To Fight Climate Change, One City May Ban Heating Homes With Natural Gas". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  5. ^ Lindblom, Mike (August 14, 2014). "Metro starts work on $1.50 fare card for low-income riders". Seattle Times. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Directory". State Policy Network. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  7. ^ Camden, Jim (January 11, 2015). "Television, Internet let you track Washington Legislature". Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  8. ^ "How Your State Lawmakers Voted in Olympia". Nisqually Valley News. March 13, 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  9. ^ "How they voted — March 10, 2015". The Daily Record. March 10, 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  10. ^ Drew, James (September 12, 2019). "Does mistake in legal briefings blow hole in Sound Transit's car-tab case?". Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  11. ^ "WA Supreme Court upholds ST3 in separate car tabs lawsuit". 13 February 2020.