Business & Economy
Business & Economy

Tax A Billionaire, Raise Some Cash? It’s An Idea Washington State Democrats Are Floating
Washington billionaires would pay a “wealth tax” under a proposal in the state House that will get a public hearing on Tuesday. The bill is sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Noel Frame, who chairs the House Finance Committee, and would impose a one percent tax on intangible financial property, such as stocks and bonds, futures contracts and publicly traded options. A billionaire’s first $1 billion in “taxable worldwide wealth” would be exempt. Continue Reading Tax A Billionaire, Raise Some Cash? It’s An Idea Washington State Democrats Are Floating

State Auditor: Data Breach Compromised Info Of 1.6 Million Washingtonians Seeking Unemployment
A data breach may have exposed the personal information of 1.6 million residents who filed for unemployment last year, as well as other information from state agencies and local governments, Washington state Auditor Pat McCarthy said Monday. Continue Reading State Auditor: Data Breach Compromised Info Of 1.6 Million Washingtonians Seeking Unemployment

10 Senate Republicans Outline $600B Counteroffer To President Biden’s COVID-19 Relief Bill
Ten Republican senators on Sunday requested a meeting with President Biden to detail a smaller counterproposal to his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, an alternative they believe could be approved “quickly by Congress with bipartisan support.” Continue Reading 10 Senate Republicans Outline $600B Counteroffer To President Biden’s COVID-19 Relief Bill

Pandemic Piles On Already Reeling Boeing, Leading To Nearly $12 Billion Loss In 2020
Boeing is trying to close the books on a dismal year. The aircraft manufacturer Wednesday reported that the company lost close to $12 billion in 2020, a record loss, as the pandemic depressed demand for new airplanes and the company continued to reel from its 737 Max debacle. Continue Reading Pandemic Piles On Already Reeling Boeing, Leading To Nearly $12 Billion Loss In 2020

Washington Legislators Unveil $2.2 Billion COVID-19 Financial Relief Package
The plan includes $618 million to boost vaccination efforts and contact tracing. It also includes $668 million for school assistance, $365 million to aid renters and landlords and $240 million for grants to businesses. Continue Reading Washington Legislators Unveil $2.2 Billion COVID-19 Financial Relief Package

Retail Spending Dips For 3rd Straight Month As Infections Surge
Even as people continue to splurge on shopping, they cut back on going out to eat and shop. Plus, the earlier-than-usual holiday shopping season meant online shopping as well sales of electronics and appliances dipped in December. Gas stations saw the biggest jump in spending last month, up 6.6%, as people traveled for holiday visits despite health warnings. Continue Reading Retail Spending Dips For 3rd Straight Month As Infections Surge

$1,400 Checks And Help For The Jobless: What’s In Joe Biden’s Plan To Rescue The Economy
President-elect Joe Biden has long pledged he would deliver an aggressive plan to address the raging coronavirus pandemic and the painful recession it spawned. Continue Reading $1,400 Checks And Help For The Jobless: What’s In Joe Biden’s Plan To Rescue The Economy

Farmers Got Big Government Pandemic Relief In 2020, Even Those Who Didn’t Need It
The aid, delivered in two separate packages over the course of the year, went to a wide variety of people in agriculture, including corn and soybean farmers, cattle ranchers, and fruit and vegetable producers. The $46 billion in direct government payments to farmers in 2020 broke the previous annual record by about $10 billion, even after accounting for inflation. Continue Reading Farmers Got Big Government Pandemic Relief In 2020, Even Those Who Didn’t Need It

The Spectacular Rise Of SPACs: The Backwards IPO That’s Taking Over Wall Street
Shaquille O’Neal’s got a SPAC. Former House Speaker Paul Ryan’s got a SPAC. Famed investor Bill Ackman launched a $4 billion SPAC. And a 25-year-old became the youngest self-made billionaire thanks to — you guessed it — a SPAC. So what is a SPAC? A “special purpose acquisition company” is a way for a company to go public without all the paperwork of a traditional IPO, or initial public offering. Continue Reading The Spectacular Rise Of SPACs: The Backwards IPO That’s Taking Over Wall Street

President Trump Signs COVID-19 Relief Deal After His Criticism Threatened To Derail It
President Trump on Sunday night signed a massive coronavirus relief and spending package, relenting on a measure he had called a “disgrace” days earlier. The legislation, which combines $900 billion in COVID-19 aid with government funding through September 2021, was passed by large majorities in both houses of Congress on Dec. 21 — only to see Trump blindside legislators the next day and blast the bill. Continue Reading President Trump Signs COVID-19 Relief Deal After His Criticism Threatened To Derail It

How The Pandemic Turned An Introvert Into A Voice For Gig Workers
The coronavirus pandemic drove many people to recognize gig work as “essential” for the first time, but the crisis also revealed the stark disparities between jobs that come with security and benefits and gig work, which does not. Continue Reading How The Pandemic Turned An Introvert Into A Voice For Gig Workers

‘All Is Not Calm’: Congress Scrambles After President Trump Blasts COVID-19 Relief Package
With millions of Americans waiting for desperately needed economic aid, a massive relief package remains in limbo as President Trump weighs whether to sign it into law. Continue Reading ‘All Is Not Calm’: Congress Scrambles After President Trump Blasts COVID-19 Relief Package