In bad times, Democrats demand tax increases. In good times, Democrats demand tax increases. Democrats are a broken record.
Yesterday it was announced there’s been a huge surge in state tax revenue from our existing tax burden — to the tune of $600 million more than they had expected.
Democrats were depressed, downcast, and demoralized. They know that good news takes the air out of the balloon for higher taxes. So at first they said the revenue surge was actually bad news. Then they grudgingly acknowledged that the growing economy and surging state revenues were, in fact, good news but they wanted to increase taxes anyway.
Matter of factly, Senate budget leader Republican John Braun said, “I remain confident that no additional revenue is necessary.”
That’s great to hear. And what’s especially encouraging: this was his position before this revenue forecast, and it is his position now after learning there’s been a massive $600 million surge in tax revenue.
And we don’t have to take his word for it: on the first day of Senate business this session, Senate Republicans and Democrat Tim Sheldon enacted a 2/3 vote requirement for bills raising taxes.
When it comes to raising taxes, the contrast couldn’t be clearer: Democrats are tax obsessed, Republicans are tax averse.
I repeatedly heard Braun’s predecessor, Andy Hill, say “Raising taxes needs to be a last resort, not a first response.”
All House Democrats and all Senate Democrats see raising taxes as the first response, second response, and third response. It is their sole purpose. Good times, bad times, revenues up, revenues down, it doesn’t matter: their obsession is to take as much money from the taxpayers as they possibly can. No exceptions.
They are like Sound Transit on steroids. Democrats have an insatiable tax appetite. It’s a demonstrable fact.
