Businesses don’t need more hurdles

Washington ranks third in the nation for business failures, and is the only state in the country with a B&O tax.

Republican Sen. Mike Carrell’s legislation for 2007 (Senate Bill 5004) would double B&O tax credits from their current rates: service businesses from $28,000 to $56,000 gross; manufacturing businesses from $86,777 to $173,554 gross; retail businesses from $89,172 to $178,334 gross. I emphasize these are gross amounts.

As difficult as it is to start a small business in this state, we don’t need to destroy them before they can get off the ground. Driving small businesses out of this state is not in our best interest either. Let’s create jobs and grow Washington’s economy instead.

Brian Lervold

Everett