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POLICY HIGHLIGHTER
 Volume 12, Number 19
November 19, 2002 2002 Washington State Tax Comparison Updated 1/31/03 Legislators will soon be returning to Olympia to face a $2.5 to $3 billion state deficit. They need to resist the urge to raise taxes. Washington consistently ranks among the highest taxed states in the nation and the burden is taking its toll on families and businesses. Lawmakers need to make tough decisions and put Governor Locke's new budget model to good use. Washington Tax Rankings
* The 8.9% is the 2002 maximum combined rate from Snohomish County; the state and local sales tax comparison is difficult to pinpoint, but reflects an October 2001 estimate by the Department of Revenue based on 8.8%. Prepared by Hans Zeiger, Research Assistant, (360) 956-3482.
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1 Part Honesty; 2 Parts Arrogance At a March 23, 2005, House Appropriations hearing on a bill to gut the voter-approved I-601 spending limit, Rep. Jim McIntire (D) asked a supporter of I-601’s two-third supermajority requirement for the legislature to raise taxes the following question: "Can you name a time when we [legislators] have actually not just set it [supermajority requirement] aside by majority vote? I mean, this is in many respects a procedural motion that has no bearing. It’s a statutory constraint that cannot constrain any legislature that chooses as a majority to set it aside . . . have we ever used a supermajority [to raise taxes]?" - Rep. Jim McIntire (D - 46) Despite the arrogance of some state officials, Washington's constitution is clear: "All political power is inherent in the people..." |
