Washington Bridges Are Crumbling While Billions Go to Light Rail | Charles Prestrud
Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. In this video, we'll hear WPC Transportation Director Charles Prestrud as he details the state of Washington bridges and how the Department of Transportation is struggling to keep up with their repair. 00:00 – Why bridges are closing now01:00 – SR 410 over-height strike & long detours01:48 – Aging closures: SR 165 Carbon River & SR 169 Green River02:58 – Repair vs. full replacement; why replacements take years04:33 – Underfunded maintenance: 3,000 bridges, 200+ in poor condition07:19 – Deferred maintenance = higher costs10:16 – Taxes vs. reprioritizing revenue; culvert lawsuit costs14:02 – 2026 session: $1B preservation gap14:50 – Sound Transit “enterprise initiative” vs. $30B overrun16:13 – Ridership down, costs up; alternatives to rail23:11 – Will Olympia bail out Sound Transit?30:15 – Why tolls exist (520, 99, I-405)Visit our homepage for the latest Washington news: https://washingtonpolicy.orgSign up for our FREE newsletter: https://washingtonpolicy.org/signupFollow us on our social platforms! Facebook: / washington.policy.center | X: https://x.com/wapolicycenter | Instagram: / washingtonpolicy | TikTok: / washingtonpolicy
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Businesses Are Fleeing Washington as New Taxes Pour in | September 30
Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. In this episode, we'll hear WaFd President & CEO Brent Beardall on how businesses are reacting to Washington's new tax burdens, as well as Center for Small Business Director Mark Harmsworth detailing a new tax on all kinds of services that will hurt small businesses and consumers across the state.
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Why Censorship Backfires Every Time | September 16
Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. In this video, we'll hear from Communications Director Dave Boze and Communications Manager Donald Kimball discussing free speech, data privacy laws, and the intersection of both. 00:00 - Introduction00:31 - Linking free speech and data privacy00:54 - Reaction to Charlie Kirk’s killing & online responses02:13 - Polls on political violence03:11 - Campus incidents & enforcement double standards05:41 - Pam Bondi remark; “misinformation” & censorship risks10:20 - Responsibility in rhetoric12:09 - WA hate-speech hotline pilot & cultural risks13:38 - WPC Report Card; where WA is falling behind17:59 - Radical transparency19:49 - Data privacy unintended consequences22:07 - Case study: women-only app verification breach24:05 - UK age-verification; VPN debate & circumvention26:36 - WA kids’ online-safety bill fix27:42 - Limits of “pass a law” thinking31:15 - Stakes of data exposureVisit our homepage for the latest Washington news: https://washingtonpolicy.orgSign up for our FREE newsletter: https://washingtonpolicy.org/signupFollow us on our social platforms! Facebook: / washington.policy.center | X: https://x.com/wapolicycenter | Instagram: / washingtonpolicy | TikTok: / washingtonpolicy
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Why Your Hospital Bills are High and Car Tabs Expensive | August 19, 2025
Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. In this video, we'll hear from Elizabeth New, our Center for Health Care and Center for Worker Rights Director, and Charles Prestrud, our Center for Transportation Director.Visit our homepage for the latest Washington news: https://washingtonpolicy.orgSign up for our FREE newsletter: https://washingtonpolicy.org/signupFollow us on our social platforms! Facebook: / washington.policy.center | X: https://x.com/wapolicycenter | Instagram: / washingtonpolicy | TikTok: / washingtonpolicy
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50% of Spokane's Homeless Came From Outside, Here's Why | Dr. Robert Marbut
Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly (weekly during the legislative session) virtual lunchtime event series featuring center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy research and analysis. In this video, we'll hear from Dr. Robert Marbut, the former federal homelessness czar and upcoming speaker for our Eastern Washington Annual Dinner!00:00 - Introduction00:34 - Marbut’s background and national experience 01:18 - San Antonio’s Haven for Hope success story 03:09 - Spokane homelessness: new research overview 04:00 - Why Spokane is struggling despite more spending 05:26 - Asking the right question: what’s the problem? 07:33 - Drucker’s advice: define the problem before the solution 08:29 - Key stat: 50% of Spokane’s homeless came from elsewhere 12:26 - Why people *really* come to Spokane 14:11 - Permissive enforcement and lack of police presence 15:37 - What really causes homelessness? HUD’s 10 categories 17:21 - Street-level homelessness: addiction and mental illness 20:21 - Cities succeeding by focusing on treatment and recovery 22:53 - Case study: West Tampa vs. East Tampa 23:53 - Small city success: Fort Smith, Arkansas 25:15 - What Spokane will look like in 4 years without change 27:11 - Surprising indicator: dogs on the street predict violence 28:37 - Spokane’s rising fentanyl death rate 30:51 - New executive order on homelessness and drug policy 33:14 - Ending taxpayer-funded drug enablement 34:50 - How the EO flips the script: easier treatment, harder drugs Visit our homepage for the latest Washington news: https://washingtonpolicy.orgSign up for our FREE newsletter: https://washingtonpolicy.org/signupFollow us on our social platforms! Facebook: / washington.policy.center | X: https://x.com/wapolicycenter | Instagram: / washingtonpolicy | TikTok: / washingtonpolicy
Washington Policy On The Go is WPC's bi-weekly virtual event series in which we interview center directors and guests to inform you on the latest in Washington State policy.
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