Washington Policy Center
From Sunshine Review
| Washington Policy Center | |
| 501(c)(3) | |
 | |
| Leadership: | Daniel Mead Smith |
| Political party | Nonpartisan |
| Website | Washington Policy Center |
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| Coalition partner |
Contents |
The Washington Policy Center (WPC) is a independent, non-partisan, research and education organization located in Seattle, Washington. The organization publishes studies, sponsors events and conferences and educates citizens on public policy issues facing the state of Washington. WPC has an annual budget of $1.5 million and satellite office in Olympia.
[edit] Policy centers
The WPC is organized into a number of policy centers focused on the following policies: government fiscal restraint, promoting a healthy business climate, protecting the environment, health reform, education reform, transportation improvements and accountability.
[edit] Education
WPC's Center for Education was created "to conduct objective research and to make practical policy recommendations to improve Washington State’s ability to carry out its paramount duty to educate every child within its borders."
[edit] Environment
Begun in 2003, the Center the for Environment promotes free-market solutions to environmental issues.
[edit] Government Reform
The Center for Government Reform was started in 2007 to "partner with stakeholders and citizens to work toward a government focused on its core functions while improving its transparency, accountability, performance, and effectiveness for taxpayers."
[edit] Health Care
The Center for Health Care "develops solutions to reduce costs and improve the availability and quality of health care for businesses and individuals." They hold an annual conference along with publishing studies and commentaries.
[edit] Labor
The Center for Labor and Employment regularly publishes research on labor issues facing Washington state.
[edit] Small Business
The Center for Small Business focuses on ways to improve taxation and regulation policies aimed toward small businesses.
[edit] Transportation
Started in 2006, the Center for Transportation "researches and analyzes the best practices for relieving traffic congestion by recapturing a vision of a system based on freedom of movement."
[edit] Transparency
The Washington Policy Center recently worked with OMB Watch for the "Right to Know" conference to promote a proactive healthy FOIA atmosphere at the federal level.[1]. The organizations has also endorsed a state funded website which will provide a searchable database of the states finances.[2],[3]
[edit] Washington Votes
Washington Votes is a project of WPC which provides "users instant access to concise, plain language and objective descriptions of every single bill, amendment, and vote that takes place in the Washington legislature."[4]
[edit] Staff
The organization has a full-time staff of 13 at its office in Seattle. The current president of the organization is Daniel Mead Smith.[5]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ↑ Right to Know Conference
- ↑ WPC, Transparency endorsement, 8/14/2008
- ↑ The Olympian, State revenue flow requires transparency, Oct. 2, 2008
- ↑ Washington Votes Purpose of this Site
- ↑ WPC Staff
