To veto or not to veto, that is the sales tax question

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown on Monday became the latest Democrat to ruminate on whether Gov. Chris Gregoire will veto a sales tax hike and if the chief executive should reveal her plans sooner than later.

Brown said for her to pledge a veto would draw a line in the sand between the two chambers and hamper already difficult negotiations between the Senate and House. On Saturday night and again Sunday, Gregoire met separately with Brown and House Speaker Frank Chopp for chunks of time. The three also met together Sunday.

Those talks seemed stalemated Monday as lawmakers tried to brush aside thoughts of the special session dragging on for days - if not the entire allotment of 30 days.

On the other hand, Brown sounded as if she views Gregoire's silence as tacit support to approve a temporary hike in the sales tax if that's what the Legislature delivers to her to sign.

“I believe that to be the case," Brown said. "I think she has to speak for herself. If she was going to give a different message she could have given it, privately or publicly on multiple occasions."

When asked if she had put the question of a veto to the governor specifically, Brown said, "Our offices have communicated about that question" but not received a clear answer.

Gregoire continued Monday to insist the veto card is on the table but she's not inclined to play it - or announce she won't play it - because of concern it will damage the conversation between the two chambers.

"I've been trying to be as prudent with power as I can in this special session so they can get negotiating," she said. "I'm not trying to be dogmatic here. I want this to be a negotiated settlement."

She said she's been pretty clear with lawmakers about her distaste of a sales tax increase and wondered which lawmakers are interpreting her silence different than that position.

"I don't know who you're talking to because it's clear to me that that is not the feeling when I talk to folks," she said.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, House Majority Lynn Kessler, a pro-sales tax lawmaker, essentially called out the governor in hopes of altering the dynamics of negotiations.

"It will change the discussion," she said. "Do we want to sit here until next session, or do we want to get the job done and go home?"

There may be strategy here in trying to force the governor's hand on the veto pen. Every day she does not announce a veto is one more day for pro-sales tax lawmakers in the House to gather their forces for a possible run at a vote in the caucus.

It doesn't appear House Democrats have a significantly strong philosophical aversion to sales tax hikes; they've passed laws allowing and encouraging cities and counties to raise sales tax for an array of services.

And members who are on record against the sales tax hike continue to press for allowing transit districts to collect an extra $50 in car tab fees -- with voter approval -- this year.