Comments

1
If they really can stave off the November cuts, that will earn this plan a lot of bonus points in my book. AFAIK no other proposal even tries to do this.
2
Ooooh. Murray's gonna be pissed.
3
@2 Be prepared for some dirty facebook rants from our esteemed mayor.
4
"a more progressive tax than the mayor's current plan.". Color me dubious. Unless this somehow institutes a city-wide income tax, there is no more progressive a tax in this state than the MVET. I smell a switch from a sales tax to a property tax, which is only marginally more progressive, mostly in name only.
5
One bad part about beady eyes is its actually pretty tough to open them really wide when you're incredulously pissed.
6
@4: How is the current MVET at all "progressive"?
7
Maybe a 1% income tax on those who work in the city?
8
It is so refreshing to finally some push back and challenge from the left.
Nick, Kshama, keep it up.
9
Maybe business is going to be invited to participate.
10
@6, because cars are voluntary. Shelter is needed for survival. Goods to ensure shelter that are taxed by a sales tax are needed for survival. The only progressive tax the state currently has is on cars, the only voluntary and taxed item on the list.
11
@4
I might be wrong, but I dont believe the Mayor has proposed an MVET. He has proposed a car tab fee. MVET charges by the value of the vehicle, tab fee charges by the car. Tabs arent the most regressive thing ever, but they arent progressive.
12
@9 They'd want to count bus slips as part of the slip credit
13
@4: The mayor's plan isn't an MVET, it's a flat car tax.
14
The fact this sounds like it will be designed to stop the pending cuts in September makes this the best option so far
15
My impression is that levying an MVET requires the state to pass legislation allowing it. That just isn't going to happen in the current political environment and certainly not before September.
16
So in case you aren't on the twitter the plan is to have this funded by a head tax per employee and increased parking tax.
17
I'm going to guess all the drivers get Eyman style "raises" to $15/hour.
18
@16 Thanks. The details are: We'd still vote on the $60 car tab. But the sales tax increase would be replaced by an $18pp "employee tax" paid by employers (I think?) and an increase in the parking tax. That's something the counsel could pass right now. Both funding sources have precedent and are legal. Most importantly, they could take effect pretty much immediately.

Employers certainly do benefit from having a mobile workforce but I'm not sure how I feel about that being a long-term solution. But, it could definitely be a temporary measure to get us through November.
19

Plan C is perfectly fair, and perfectly Progressive.

It's hilarious to watch both Democrats and their supposedly Socialist allies twist and turn trying to avoid the exact thing they've been asking for for the last few years.

20
"The left wing of the Seattle city council"?
Jesus, that's like saying "the cold part of Antarctica".

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