Balance state budget responsibly, not ideologically; WA Democrats back off wealth tax while pushing $12 billion tax increase

EDITORIAL: Balance state budget responsibly, not ideologically

The Seattle Times — To be clear: This budget shortfall is of the Legislature’s own making, enabled by former Gov. Jay Inslee. No recession nor economic downturn has dented state revenues. In reality, they’re expected to grow by $10 billion over the next four years. The state’s operating budget has nearly doubled, from $34.3 billion to $66.4 billion, in the last decade, outpacing both population growth and inflation. The most progressive lawmakers still cling to the notion that, with just over a week left in this session, the effort to balance the budget must also include a hasty overhaul of the state’s tax system. Nonsense. No more gimmicks that assume revenue growth over the projections of state economists. No tapping the state’s rainy-day fund. And no hurried and fundamental alteration to the way the state taxes its citizens and businesses. $

WA Democrats back off wealth tax while pushing $12 billion tax increase

The Seattle Times — Rep. Chris Corry, R-Yakima, said Democrats have had one aim from the start of the session. “The goal is never a balanced budget. The goal was raise taxes,” he said. Corry said he’s most concerned about the property tax increases, which he said will hit every Washingtonian whether they rent or own property. $

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