It is ironic that the Democratic Caucus in the Washington state Senate chose tax filing season to take a “we know better” vote and override the will of Washington voters in order to allow tax increases. They are so proud of their action that they took a second vote in order to prevent the voters from finding out which senators voted in favor of tax increases.
Our senator, Mary Margaret Haugen, is one of the senators who believed she knew better than her constituents of the 10th Legislative District and voted to allow tax increases by a simple majority vote of the Legislature.
When I contacted Sen. Haugen before the vote and asked her position, she replied that the Democratic Caucus had not decided on their course of action and so she was unable to answer my question. I reminded her that she was our senator, not the Democratic Caucus.
Voters should have noticed in their January checks that their net was less than in December because President Obama’s tax reduction was just a temporary reduction in the withholding rate and has expired. These voters will also notice, when they prepare their tax returns, that they owe money just like me, since the temporary withholding reduction meant that not enough was withheld to meet their tax obligation.
Couple the tax payment with the “education” levy rates approved by voters last week and the expected property tax rate increases that all county governments will adopt and the Washington taxpayer is in a world of hurt.
The only solution to this extreme financial crisis is for voters to say “no” and replace all office holders who vote in favor of tax increases.
Rod R. Mourant
Freeland
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