Tax increases by Democrats in Legislature could backfire

As an independent voter, I too welcome the opportunity for the Legislature to overcome much of the recent gridlock regarding improvements to our state’s needs and how funding may better be agreed upon (“Editorial: Democrats’ control in Olympia comes with duty,” The Herald, Nov. 9).

But I would advise the Democrats to choose their taxes wisely. They have been given an opportunity to unify, not a blank checkbook. Income taxes have been rejected time and again by the people of this state, and energy taxes (the “carbon” tax) could raise the cost of a gallon of gasoline by a dollar or more. Are there circumstances where such taxes could be justified? Perhaps, but the state has not shown it can simply collect large amounts of taxpayer funds and spend them without the growth of government being put first.

I look forward to the main problems of the last session finally being addressed. But unless they would like to see a Tim Eyman-esque resurgence, the legislators and the governor must not try to push the limits.

David W. Dahlberg

Snohomish