State House Leader McMorris talks 'budget'
4/1/03
from Representative Cathy McMorris
House Republican Leader
After three months of being in session and with less than a month
to go, we still have not seen a budget proposal by the House Democrat
Majority. This will leave us with a very short amount of time to debate
the state's most important piece of legislation. We have, however,
been getting strong signals that their budget will include tax increases
-- despite Governor Locke saying "I believe a general tax increase
would be unwise in these tough economic times." (Longview Daily
News 1/8/2003). Here are a few indications of what's coming (legislators
often speak in code, so I've taken the liberty of translating):
Define "Small and Temporary"...Rep. Bill Fromhold (D-Vancouver)
said the state will need a "small and temporary" increase
in revenues. "The reality is you can't cut your way out of a
$2.5 billion, $3 billion deficit, nor can you tax your way out of
it."
Source: The Columbian 12/14/2002
Translation: It's easier to live outside your means than within them.
The value of time...Rep. Maralyn Chase (D- Edmonds) said, "I'm
going to spend a lot of my time trying to show people that we need
to raise revenues."
Source: The Everett Herald 1/12/2003
Translation: Tax hike, tax hike, tax hike!
Interpreting for Governor Locke...Rep. Helen Sommers (D-Seattle),
Appropriations Chair, said: "He (Locke) didn't quite say 'no
taxes.'"
Source: The Olympian 1/16/2003
Translation: Please call the governor's office to see if he means
"no taxes."
Good for Oregon Businesses...Rep. Bill Fromhold (D-Vancouver) said
he supports temporarily increasing the sales tax by about a half-penny
per dollar. The sales tax increase would be automatically repealed
in two years. Fromhold called increasing the sales tax "the least
of evils."
Source: The Columbian 1/16/2003
Translation: A $1.2 billion sales tax increase, or more if this "temporary"
increase becomes permanent.
What about your options?...Rep. Eileen Cody (D- Seattle) said, "We
need to explore our options."
Source: King County Journal 3/1/2003
Translation: Exploring new ways to get into your pockets.
Grab your wallet and duck, they're shooting...Rep. Jeff Gombosky (D-Spokane)
said, "The number we're shooting for is $100 million in (fewer)
tax breaks."
Source: Spokesman-Review 3/9/2003
Translation: A hundred million in fewer tax breaks means a hundred
million in new taxes on employers.
Feeling your pain...Rep. Jim McIntire (D-Seattle) "I'm not a
fan of the sales tax. But I think it's broad enough and would cause
the least amount of pain."
Source: Seattle Times 3/16/2003
Translation: It's not an income tax, but it's the next best way to
get the most amount of money out of the taxpayer.
What's wrong with the old revenue?...At a recent union gathering,
House Speaker Frank Chopp (D-Seattle) and Appropriations Chairwoman
Helen Sommers (D-Seattle) said Democrats plan to find new revenue
to stave off some of Locke's cuts.
Source: Seattle Times 3/16/2003
Translation: New revenue for state = less money for taxpayers.
The straw that broke the camel's back...House Speaker Frank Chopp
(D-Seattle) said solving the budget shortfall would take "such
a little amount of money" from every citizen. "We can afford
to do a little more," said Chopp.
Source: Seattle Times 3/16/2003
Translation: A hundred million here, a hundred million there. Before
you know it, we're talking real tax increases!
Relying on taxes...Budget leaders in the Democrat-controlled House
say their spending proposal will rely partly on tax increases or some
other form of new revenue.
Source: Seattle Times 3/16/2003
Translation: All "revenue" comes from taxpayers...there
is no other "form."
Keep up on the latest news...Visit our website: http://hrc.leg.wa.gov/
Please feel free to forward this email to others who might be interested.
If you wish to contact me, click here: hrcleader@leg.wa.gov
Cordially,
Representative Cathy McMorris
House Republican Leader