As we speed toward the end of the year and toward yet another state legislative session, Washington Council on International Trade President Eric Schinfeld and Trade Development Alliance Sam Kaplan have asked the question, “What will 2014 bring for Washington’s international competitiveness?”
"As a result of the global outlook of our companies and Washington’s role as an international gateway for exports and imports, our state’s economy has grown rapidly over the past 20 years," they write in a thoughtful piece for Crosscut. "And yet, our state is still not focused on making the most important policy and investment decisions necessary for us to continue to be a globally competitive economic leader. We have the potential to achieve even more in the future than we have over the past 20 years, but only if we work to capitalize on our strengths and opportunities."
The top priority for state lawmakers is passage of a state transportation revenue package. "Our state Legislature should take the first step by prioritizing investments that have the highest return, particularly in transportation infrastructure, port development and education," they argue.
Having passed up the opportunity to make those types of investments in 2013, one has to hope that state lawmakers will step up to the plate and get this done in 2014.