I just called all my legislators here in Washington because we have the MOST regressive tax system of any state in the whole country. The working poor pay about 18% of their income in state taxes while the wealthy pay only 3% of their income in state taxes. This has the working poor subsidizing the State's wealthiest people.
Today I heard about a bill in our legislature establishing a one percent tax on incomes of people making over $500,000 a year. Washington is one of a handful of throwback states without any income tax, and that is the biggest reason why our tax system is so regressive. Washington relies on a primitive patchwork of state property, sales taxes, and business and occupation taxes that regularly fail to meet the needs of the state's residents as the schools and transportation infrastructure are falling further and further behind what is needed.
As soon a I got home I got on the phone to my legislators to urge then to support this bill.
Does it stand a chance? They're a timid bunch in Olympia especially our Democratic Governor who is now loudly rejecting the idea. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Lisa Brown is a supporter.
Gregoire doesn't support income tax
"I recognize the tremendous difficulties that legislators are facing as they craft a budget under these challenging economic conditions," Gregoire said in a statement Thursday. "However, as I have stated before, I do not support a state income tax. The new proposal will undoubtedly raise constitutional and legal challenges and probably wouldn't bring in new revenue in time to address the economic crisis we face."
If not now in the middle of the biggest budget shortfall the State has ever faced then when?
If you live in Washington please help to light a fire under our legislators and our recalcitrant Democratic Governor.
UPDATE: Even if you don't live in Washington please help to freep this Poll