Washington Cost of Government Day: July 9th

Only four states work longer to pay government expenses than Washington

Today is National Cost of Government Day, but Washington state citizens won’t be out from under government bills until Monday, July 9th. Washington’s Cost of Government Day comes later than that of 45 other states.

Cost of Government Day marks the date the average citizen has earned enough to pay the cost of national, state and local government taxes and regulations. It is calculated every year by the D.C.-based Americans for Tax Reform Foundation.

Working to pay government’s bills takes Americans longer every year as taxes and regulations take an increasingly big bite out of paychecks. But it has only been in the last three years that the half-year threshold of July 1st has been crossed, meaning Americans keep less than half of their own hard-earned wages.

"It is outrageous that citizens spend more than half the year paying government expenses," said Bob Williams, president of the Olympia-based Evergreen Freedom Foundation. "We just celebrated Independence Day, but we aren’t even free to spend our own earnings yet."

Washingtonians may well be forced to work even longer next year as legislators plan a third special session this month to debate a proposed $10 billion increase in state transportation taxes and fees.

"Government seems to think citizens exist for the sake of government, instead of the other way around," said Williams.

Williams says state lawmakers should make it a top priority to scale Cost of Government Day back to April 15th, at the latest.

Contact: Marsha Richards, Communications Director, (360) 956-3482

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org