$6 billion tax increase? A Democrat legislator says: “The one thing I’ve heard from everybody is they want more”

by | Feb 13, 2013

Looks like legislators in Olympia have absolutely no exposure to taxpayers.  1.9 million voters approved our no-new-taxes Initiative 1185 — almost 2/3 of voters.  And yet apparently, none of them talk with legislators.  
 
         The Seattle Times reports today that the latest tax proposal is $6 billion.  In response, a Democrat legislator, who apparently only hangs out with tax-takers, says “The one thing I’ve heard from everybody is they want more.”  So the special interests who get the money want even more?  What a shocker!  But I thought the Legislature is supposed to represent everyone, not just the tax-takers but also the taxpayers. 
 
         Here’s the story: 
 

House Democrats to propose $6 billion transportation package

By Andrew Garber, SEATTLE TIMES, February 13, 2013

        House Democrats plan to roll out a $6 billion transportation tax package next Wednesday.

        House Transportation Chairwoman Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, said the money would primarily come from a gas tax and that they want to try to pass the measure in the Legislature instead of sending it to voters.  Passing a gas tax increase in the Legislature would require a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate.

        Clibborn said she expects to have backing from both business and labor for the proposal, which would include money for a wide variety of projects including a new bridge over the Columbia River, as well as funds for projects on Interstate 405 and the Interstate 90 mountain passes.

        She said the $6 billion figure was a starting point. “The one thing I’ve heard from everybody is they want more,” she said Tuesday.

        It’s not clear yet how such a proposal might fare in the state Senate, which is controlled by a GOP-led coalition. Majority caucus leaders did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

        Jaime Smith, a spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee, said in an email: “The governor thinks this is the right approach and he has been discussing this with House members as the plan has evolved.  He has said before he thinks the Legislature should be able to do this work here.”

 
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          What happened to Inslee’s repeated promises to veto tax increases?  Oh ya, that was pre-election Inslee — looks like post-election Inslee is just like Gregoire and Lowry when it comes to taxes.  No new taxes before the election, higher taxes after the election.
 
          Our PAC name for 2013 is “Voters Want More Choices – NO NEW TAXES 2013”.  That is our mission for this year.  We need your help to achieve it.   We can only make that happen with your help. 
 
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