State income tax idea returns in Olympia
Tax and spending. When runout of money then tax some more that is all about the liberal in Washington State capital in Olympia is all about.
Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown of Spokane said she wants voters to weigh in on the idea of an income tax on the state’s wealthiest in place of the sales tax increase bandied about Olympia right now.
It would take legislation hurried through the final weeks of the 2010 legislative session, which has been vexed with patching a $2.8 billion budget deficit.
“It seems fairly unlikely,” said House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, whose 24th District includes the North Olympic Peninsula, of a bill ordering the income tax referendum.
“But, you know, everybody’s out there trying to figure out a way that will work.”
In her blog posting Thursday, Brown suggested that the Legislature pass the Senate Democrats’ temporary 0.3-cent sales tax increase proposal and that it take effect immediately.
But Brown also suggested that the Senate should pass a bill sponsored by Sen. Rosa Franklin, a referendum that would ask voters whether they want to lower the sales tax to 6 cents per $1 of retail sales and in its place approve a “high earners” income tax.
$200,000-plus income
The tax would be on 4.5 percent on all income over $200,000 for individuals, $300,000 for heads of households and $400,000 for married couples.
(Source: http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100306/NEWS/303059999)