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 Dori Monson


Fine time for taxes, Governor Gregoire

October 26, 2012 @ 3:24 pm (Updated: 3:38 pm - 10/26/12 )

Governor Gregoire has told Dori before that she doesn't want to raise taxes, especially during a recession when people are struggling. But what is she urging gubernatorial candidates Rob McKenna and Jay Inslee to do? Raise taxes! Sounds like an easy request if you're a lame duck.

Read Tim Haeck's full story.

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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    I'm pretty sure that McKenna's proposal to raise taxes in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties didn't originate with Gregoire
    October 27, 2012 6:19 am
    McKenna has been stumping for a "tax swap" proposal that he claims is "not a tax increase" because it doesn't increase the amount of tax paid, in total, by the citizens of the state. It merely shifts the tax burden from the red side of the state to the blue side of the state. Smart political move, really. McKenna may do better than most Republicans in the better educated and urban areas on the west side, but winning the popular vote on the west side would be a stretch for him. He has to win big time in the agricultural areas east of the Cascades to have a shot.

    Under McKenna's proposal, state tax dollars would be "swapped" for local tax dollars. The additional taxes would be raised, disproportionately, in counties where the real estate values are the highest and the school districts that would benefit the most are those in districts where the real estate values are lower.

    Tax the wealthy more, to give more money to the less wealthy? Do we have two Democrats running for gov this year?

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Actually, Chuck, I think it originated with the State Supreme Court.
    October 27, 2012 6:27 am
    They are the ones who require a solution. EG: Swap.

    But even if McKenna wants to 'tax the wealthy more', at least the money with go back to the people - not donating special interest groups.

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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Actually Ron, the State Supremes mandated only that
    October 27, 2012 6:55 am
    Washington "adequately fund" education.

    The tax swap is merely one of several available options to achieve that goal. The "tax swap" is a semantic device to avoid using the word "increase".

    We will need to gut some other programs in order to adequately fund education, or raise taxes. There is some waste to wring out of the system as well, but not enough waste to bring our per-pupil expenditure for education up adequately from its current position. We're about 12th from the bottom of all 50 states. In a mobile society, we need to remember that our kids are going to be competing for jobs with kids from states where education is funded at a level not currently under judicial attack for being so low that it's unconstitutional.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    Option 3 is to let any economic recovery increase state revenues.
    October 28, 2012 6:05 am
    Of course, this requires some out of state policies and actions, but building a better business climate can't hurt. B & O, for example, is more regressive and onerous than any personal taxes ever thought of being. ....... But, yes, it's not a one part only solution.
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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Option three merely confirms....
    October 28, 2012 4:44 pm
    that during economic "boom" cycles there might be enough money available to meet the constitutional mandate that makes education the "highest priority" of state govt.

    We need to do better than that. Kids who just happen to start their school years at the beginning of a cyclical recession shouldn't have to suffer from reduced resources and staffing.

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  • Bloodsurf69 wrote...
    Initiative 101
    November 3, 2012 3:07 pm
    Sounds like Dori needs to start Initiative 101 to only allow 4 year terms for the Gov.
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