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Category Archives: Budget
Gregoire signs package of tax hikes
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed two major tax increases Friday, insisting the state had no choice but to raise taxes on a wide range of businesses and consumer goods to protect key services.
Also posted in Taxes Comments closed
OP-ED: I-960 suspension means tax increases are next
Several days ago, I had a conversation with a small business owner who has done everything possible to avoid layoffs. Between the increases in workers’ compensation insurance premiums and unemployment insurance rates, he’s paying 1,600 percent more in taxes. That’s equivalent to two employees’ salaries. “Guess what I’m forced to do?” he asked. “I have to lay off one person, maybe two, to pay for tax increases so that someone else not affiliated with my company gets extended unemployment benefits.”
Posted in Budget Comments closed
Another try to suspend I-960
Legislative do-over: State Senate to vote to lay aside entire initiative, not just part of it
State Senate Democrats say they flubbed their vote on suspending the two-thirds vote requirement in Initiative 960 for tax increases, and they need to vote again as soon as today on a broader measure.
The Senate voted 26-23 [...]
Posted in Budget Comments closed
Wash. lawmakers getting quarterly revenue forecast
Washington lawmakers are getting an update on the state's finances in the latest quarterly report from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council.
Posted in Budget Comments closed
State lawmakers should not ask voters for tax increase
The Democrat-controlled Washington Legislature seems poised to ask taxpayers to approve a November ballot measure that would raise taxes and bail the state out of an $8 billion budget deficit. Rep. Gary Alexander, the ranking member on the state House Ways and Means Committee, warns that strategy shirks legislative responsibility to balance the budget, wastes time and is likely to fail.
Washington taxpayers can't bail out state lawmakers
Any tax increase big enough to fill the state of Washington’s projected deficit in 2009-2011 will be too big for the economy to bear. The solution is cuts in spending.
FOR the two years beginning July 1, state government forecasts an $8 billion deficit — a sum equal to one-quarter of the money spent in the [...]
Also posted in Finance Comments closed
Business launches radio ads against sales tax hike; committee votes 8-7 to recommend tax measure for November ballot
House Bill 2377 was amended by the committee, but the thrust of the bill is to put a referendum on the fall ballot, asking voters to raise the state sales tax from 6.5 percent to 6.8 percent for three years -- Jan. 1, 2010 through Dec. 31, 2012. That would raise almost $1.1 billion. The money would be used to offset cuts to the state Basic Health Plan and other health programs.
New state budget includes job cuts, tuition increases
After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations and speculation, the state Senate on Monday proposed a two-year plan to bridge Washington’s $9 billion budget shortfall. As predicted, it includes some dramatic cuts.
Also posted in Economy, Education, Environment, Finance, Healthcare, Higher Education, Taxes, Unemployment Comments closed
Dems’ budget slashes education, social services, health care
Students, staff and faculty at Eastern Washington University walk through the Cheney campus Wednesday. In the background are Dressler, on the left, and Pearce residence halls. Budget writers on Wednesday agreed to increase college tuition.
Measure removes tuition cap
OLYMPIA – Washington students could pay more for a college diploma under a bill approved by the state [...]
Also posted in Education, Finance, Healthcare, Higher Education Comments closed