Posted on 04/16/2009 5:22:58 PM PDT by llevrok
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Lawmakers may ask voters to approve a sales tax increase and create a state income tax. Whether voters would support either measure, is not clear.
Representative Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle, introduced a referendum that would ask voters to increase the state’s sales tax by 0.3 percent for three years, starting January 2010.
The proceeds would reinstate some of the proposed budget cuts to heath care. Some of the money generated would bring rebate checks to low-income families.
Rep. Pettigrew said he knows asking taxpayers to pay more is not an easy sell in this recession.
“If we don’t make this investment now,” said Rep. Pettigrew, “what ends up happening is you start seeing people in the street literally start dying. You start seeing more and more people cared for in their homes, ending up in nursing homes.”
Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Thurston County, said he wasn’t surprised the referendum was introduced. He thinks if it makes it out of the Capitol, voters will not support it.
“Our families are not in a position to acquire more tax debt,” said Alexander.
The owner of Orca Books, a downtown Olympia book store, said she did not think the increase in sales tax would hurt her business. She said she would vote for the increase.
“It’s a very worthy cause. Everyone needs health care and so we need to do what we need to do,” said owner Linda Berentsen.
But Deb Moody, who owns Olympia’s State of the Arts Gallery, thinks the sales tax is high enough, especially in this economy. She said her business suffered its worst March in 17 years.
“Trying to get blood out of a turnip isn’t going to help,” said Moody.
The sales tax referendum has a public hearing scheduled for Friday at 8 a.m.
Creating an income tax for those making more than $250,000 remains just an idea at the Capitol. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, has discussed the idea on her blog. However, no referendum has been introduced. One legislative source said the idea remains alive, despite the sales tax referendum introduced in the House.
State Senator Rosa Franklin
If they are going to have a State income tax then ALL working people should pay. If you do not pay you do not vote
“...ALL working people should pay...”
I agree 100%.
To any Dems that might be reading this: Are tax increases the only thing you clowns know?
Good idea.
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