With the tax bill out, let the caucuses begin

  • Jerry Cornfield
  • Saturday, April 10, 2010 3:23pm
  • Local News

House and Senate Democrats are meeting in caucus this hour — and maybe a couple more – discussing and debating the written version of a $667 million package of tax increases.

(When you add in revenues from other pieces of legislation such as the cigarette tax hike you end up with a $794 million tax proposal.)

Details here as well as in the attached spreadsheet.

A vote is expected in the House today. Several members said they are confident the votes are in hand to pass the measure later today or tonight.

“I suspect we do,” Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, said about the likelihood of having at least 50 votes of support. “Everybody’s realizing we’ve got to get the job done.”

The Senate won’t vote before Sunday. One reason is three members are absent today. Another is the 25 votes needed for passage may still not be in hand.

I’m hearing there’s concern because Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, is not happy with the bill. He supported a hike in the sales tax and did not want the soda pop tax because businesses in his district would be affected. With the sales tax hike gone and soda pop tax in it’s simple to see why he’s not smiling about the content.

Hatfield had been one of the 25 votes supporting earlier versions of a revenue package. If his position actually has changed to opposition it would leave Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown one vote shy of a majority.

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