Liberal think tank merges with SEIU

The Washington State Budget & Policy Center, a liberal “think tank” based in Seattle, has hired a new executive director who has 10 years experience with Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Via the so-called think tank’s website,

“[Misha] Werschkul has spent the past 10 years in a range of policy leadership roles promoting economic justice with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in Washington, DC, and the Seattle-based Local 775 of SEIU. She most recently served as SEIU 775’s legislative and policy director. Prior to that, she held two research fellowships with the Institute for Women’s Policy Research in Washington, DC.”

Perhaps the best part of the announcement is this line: “Based in Seattle, the Washington State Budget & Policy Center is an independent, nonpartisan organization that works for a just and prosperous state through sound research and analysis.”

There is just one question for the ridiculous “independent, nonpartisan” claim: How can the Budget and Policy Center claim to be a non-partisan think tank when a large chunk of its funding comes from Democrats and, now, it is being run by a SEIU lackey?

The Budget and Policy Center has a long history of championing the policies of Democrats and the interests of labor unions. During the 2015 legislative session, the “think tank” attacked Republican state Sen. Andy Hill for insisting that new taxes were not needed (which proved to be correct). The Budget and Policy Center—which has consistently backed Inslee’s cry for higher taxes and supports a state income tax —re-iterated the myth that the state cannot meet its obligations without higher taxes.

Now, one can only assume the Budget and Policy Center will shift even further to the left now that it has merged with the SEIU.