December 21st 2024

Recent News – 2/18/2010

State House approves suspension of I-960.

After two days of heated debate spurred by a feisty Republican minority, the state House has approved a temporary suspension of Initiative 960, which makes it harder for legislators to raise taxes. AP's CURT WOODWARD in Peninsula Daily, Seattle Times , Bellingham Herald -- 2.18.10

Olympia wants to raise your taxes.

Budget cuts are the hot topic in Olympia. The state of Washington is dealing with a $2.7-million budget shortfall, and the solutions being proposed are not about cutting spending, but raising taxes — specifically, a 1-percent sales-tax increase. That should make you mad, unless you are a state employee, but even so — think about it. It's a consumption tax. THOMAS CLOUD in The Daily. -- 2.18.10

Wash. gov wants $605M in taxes for deficit.

Gov. Chris Gregoire wants a total of $605 million in higher taxes to help fill the state's budget deficit, including levies on oil products, bottled water, pop, candy and cigarettes.Gregoire's tax plan, released Wednesday afternoon, is an opening bid in the public debate over which taxes the state should raise amid a fragile economic recovery. The Legislature's majority Democrats are planning to raise taxes and cut spending to solve the $2.8 billion budget gap, but haven't yet revealed detailed plans. AP's CURT WOODWARD in the Seattle Times -- 2.18.10

State Senate Passes Bill Requiring Cops to Be 'Truthful and Honest'

The state Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to officially require law enforcement officers to "be truthful and honest" while carrying out their duties. That seem self-evident, but substitute Senate Bill 6590 is the result of a long-running Kitsap County case involving a deputy who the sheriff's office has twice tried to fire on allegations of misconduct and lying. JOSH FARLEY with Kitsap Sun -- 2.18.10

Candy maker: tax discriminates.

People with a sweet tooth take a hit under Gov. Chris Gregoire's tax proposals. Applying the sales tax to candy and gum would raise $28 million, Gregoire's office says, a fraction of the $605 million she wants to raise in total. There's also $94 million in revenue from slapping a 5 cent tax on a 12-ounce can of any carbonated beverage. Another $8 million would come from repealing a tax credit for pop syrup. JORDAN SCHRADER in Political Buzz. -- 2.18.10