Published: Thursday, February 25, 2010
Details of House Democrats tax plans delayed
OLYMPIA — House Democrats were expected Wednesday to lay out a plan for raising $857 million in new taxes, but it didn’t happen.
Members of the Ways and Means Committee unfurled their proposal Tuesday for rebalancing the budget and erasing a projected $2.7 billion deficit with a combination of reserves, one-time fund transfers, $640 million in federal aid and the new revenue.
House Democrats intended to settle on how best to generate the revenue in caucus Wednesday, but it didn’t come up as members focused on other unresolved issues such as whether to impose a furlough on nonunion workers.
Friday is now the day details could emerge.
The Senate has a $940 million package of new and higher taxes, including a three-tenths of a penny hike in the state’s portion of the sales tax.
Gov. Chris Gregoire has offered a $605 million package that includes imposing sales tax on candy and new levies on bottled water and soda pop.
Both the governor and Senate plans increase the tax on cigarettes by $1 a pack.
Members of the Ways and Means Committee unfurled their proposal Tuesday for rebalancing the budget and erasing a projected $2.7 billion deficit with a combination of reserves, one-time fund transfers, $640 million in federal aid and the new revenue.
House Democrats intended to settle on how best to generate the revenue in caucus Wednesday, but it didn’t come up as members focused on other unresolved issues such as whether to impose a furlough on nonunion workers.
Friday is now the day details could emerge.
The Senate has a $940 million package of new and higher taxes, including a three-tenths of a penny hike in the state’s portion of the sales tax.
Gov. Chris Gregoire has offered a $605 million package that includes imposing sales tax on candy and new levies on bottled water and soda pop.
Both the governor and Senate plans increase the tax on cigarettes by $1 a pack.
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