Why can't we just shut down all the public high schools? That should save lots of money and let's be honest. What sort of education do you need to work at McDonalds since those are the only jobs out there.

Why can't we just suspend all tax exemptions statewide and fully fund Education like the State Constitution requires?

Oh, and kill the Tunnel we can't afford.

@Sargon bighorn

We all pay for K-12 education with the state sales tax then local levy and property taxes add a bonus amount for local districts. And I disagree, it's been slowly circling the drain and we'll be seeing the real shit in a few years.

Cancel the tunnel and cut the Governor's salary.

Of course, it's a regressive way of buying back these state services, since a sales tax disproportionally impacts poor Washingtonians.

It also disproportionally affects small businesses which is why I will never again support a sales tax increase. Back to the drawing board with the high earners' income tax.

open the "lock box" and use the fuel taxes for the general fund. fuck WSDOT.

@3: Because of I-1053, they can't suspend tax exemptions without a 2/3 majority or a referendum. I heard Rep Bob Hasagawa say that yesterday.

Why can we not just have a fucking state income tax?!

@8,

Don't they need two-thirds to pass a sales tax increase as well? I can understand that their corporate masters oppose losing their giveaways, but the voters also hate new taxes. Why does Gregoire think a sales tax will be so much easier to pass?

Start state companies. Washington State Auto Insurance and Washington State Pharmaceuticals could both be at least as profitable as private companies.

@9

Because we are already taxed at the federal level. Lower those, and I'll be happy to pay an income tax that goes to our state. Beyond that, anyone that wants me to pay two income taxes can go fuck themselves.

That's why.

@12,

You can deduct state income tax from your federal taxes.

@10 nope. There is no Constitutional requirement for anything more than 50% plus 1 vote for such things.

@12 sure, so long as we go to Reagan-era tax rates of 90% for Millionaires, 50% for Corporations, and a 50% capital gains tax rate.

If it was good enough for Bill Gates and Steve Jobs to get rich on those tax rates, it's good enough for you, slacker.

happily voting against any sales tax increase

tax the big earners and corporations

There's easily $1 billion in tax exemptions for the few and the wealthy that legislators (with a simple majority vote) could put before voters.

There's easily $1 billion in tax exemptions for the few and the wealthy that legislators (with a simple majority vote) could put before voters.

@12 You're already Sales-Taxed at the state level! Why do you want MORE? You understand that, unless you're in the top income-bracket, a state sales tax is going to take MORE MONEY FROM YOU than a state income tax would, right?

God, you're like those 54%ers, or whatever they are. The poor don't pay any taxes! Except car, sales, property, gas... but they don't pay any INCOME TAXES, the freeloaders!

@16 is correct.

The difference between the State Constitution and the fiction that an Initiative can alter the State Constitution is exactly the problem.

None of Eyman's initiatives altered the State Constitution.

Period.

If I could feasibly claim that I'll be able to get a job next year, with these enormous cuts to higher education, then I would be more than happy to pay an income tax. It would keep me and everyone else trying to go into teaching at least reasonably sure there will be a roof, food etc in the nearish future. A stupid fucking increase in sales taxes won't offset the yearly cuts of over 10% keeping me out of the job market--and keeping me from buying all but the most fundamental things (and thus reducing the revenue stream from sales taxes...)

what the Governor means is that she's for a referendum which asks the public to vote for a 1/2 cent sales tax increase. The Legislature would have to vote 2/3rds for it (or for anything that raises what 1053 considered a fee or a tax) and they don't do that. In fact, they probably won't vote for a referendum by a simple majority.