Projected tax collections in Washington continue to fall, with declines totaling more than $500 million since the governor signed off on billions of dollars in tax increases earlier this year to help balance the budget.
In the Tri-Cities, more than 80 people employed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory by Battelle hold H-1B visas, making it a top 10 employer in the state for workers with H-1B visas.
During a panel discussion, both university leaders lamented the breakdown of partnerships between universities and the federal government, and emphasized the need for more investment in higher education, especially in research.