{{Short description|Free-market think tank}} {{Infobox institute |name = Washington Policy Center |image = |image_size = |image_alt = |caption = |latin_name = |motto = |founder = |established = |mission = WPC improves lives of Washingtonians by promoting high-quality, non-partisan, evidence-based research to advance policy solutions for a better Washington state<ref name=mission>{{cite web|title=About Washington Policy Center|url=http://www.washingtonpolicy.org/about|publisher=Washington Policy Center|accessdate=16 March 2015}}</ref> |focus = |president = |chairman = Greg Porter |head_label = President and CEO |head = Steven Hatting |faculty = |adjunct_faculty = |staff = 25 |key_people = |budget = $2.68 million (2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=Washington Policy Center - GuideStar Profile |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/91-1752769 |website=www.guidestar.org |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref> |endowment = |debt = |num_members = |subsidiaries = |owner = |non-profit_slogan = |former_name = Washington Institute Foundation<ref>{{cite news|title=Washington Institute changes name|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2001/06/18/daily39.html|accessdate=16 March 2015|publisher=Puget Sound Business Journal|date=June 21, 2001}}</ref> |location = Seattle, Washington |city = |state = |province = |country = |coor = |address = |website = {{URL|http://www.washingtonpolicy.org}} |dissolved = |footnotes = }} The '''Washington Policy Center (WPC)''' is a think tank based in the state of Washington.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Mike |title=To Fight Climate Change, One City May Ban Heating Homes With Natural Gas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/05/us/bellingham-natural-gas-ban.html |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=5 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Lindblom|first1=Mike|title=Metro starts work on $1.50 fare card for low-income riders|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/metro-starts-work-on-150-fare-card-for-low-income-riders/|accessdate=16 March 2015|publisher=Seattle Times|date=August 14, 2014}}</ref> 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."<ref name=mission/> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Directory |url=https://spn.org/directory/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=State Policy Network |language=en}}</ref>
WPC operated a free public-service website, WashingtonVotes.org, which tracked what bills state legislators introduce and support.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Camden|first1=Jim|title=Television, Internet let you track Washington Legislature|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/jan/11/television-internet-let-you-track-washington/|accessdate=16 March 2015|publisher=Spokesman-Review|date=January 11, 2015}}</ref> WashingtonVotes.org provided a roll call service to state media outlets while the legislature is in session.<ref>{{cite news|title=How Your State Lawmakers Voted in Olympia|url=http://www.yelmonline.com/news/local_news/article_d9e837c6-c9ad-11e4-a8e2-1bd7bcbc55c4.html|accessdate=16 March 2015|publisher=Nisqually Valley News|date=March 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=How they voted — March 10, 2015|url=http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/members/how-they-voted-march/article_201815e0-c747-11e4-ad36-57238402bf6a.html|accessdate=16 March 2015|publisher=The Daily Record|date=March 10, 2015}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Drew |first1=James |title=Does mistake in legal briefings blow hole in Sound Transit’s car-tab case? |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article234968662.html |access-date=17 August 2023 |date=September 12, 2019}}</ref> The constitutionality of the car-tab collection levied by Sound Transit was upheld by the State Supreme Court in February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mynorthwest.com/1718402/washington-supreme-court-sound-transit-st3-car-tabs-ruling/|title = WA Supreme Court upholds ST3 in separate car tabs lawsuit|date = 13 February 2020}}</ref>
==See also== *Freedom Foundation
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{official|http://www.washingtonpolicy.org}}
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Category:Research institutes in Washington (state) Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington (state)