Shock waves still felt in Capitol after income tax bombshell
OLYMPIA -- Shock waves continued to reverberate around the State Capitol after a proposal was floated to enact an income tax on the wealthy.
Key Democratic leaders say it's time to shake things up, but Republicans say they're astounded the idea is even being considered.
And with only a week to go before the end of the regular session, the success of the idea is in doubt.
"The goal of this is that we would shift part of the tax burden on the middle class to be people who can afford to pay more," said Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown (D-Spokane).
Brown is leading the campaign for an income tax that would only tap those who make more than $200,000 a year, or married couples who make more than $400,000.
"At its very conception, it's a high-income income tax," Brown said.
The income tax bill was brought forth just a week before the end of the session, angering Republicans who say the idea is unconstitutional and is just pitting the rich against the poor.
"That's what they're trying to create is a class war kind of thing," said Sen. Joe Zarelli (R-Ridgefield). "But I think the founders of this state, when they put the constitution together, clarified this issue of property and taxation and that it has to be uniform."
But Democratic leaders say it's time to talk about shaking things up.
"We were at the point, why shy away from an honest discussion like this? Shudder when somebody says the two words 'income tax'?" said Budget Committee Chair Sen. Margarita Prentice (D-Renton). "Lay it out for the public to really have an honest talk about."
But even if the measure got through the Senate, key House leaders tell me they're cool to the idea and it's not likely to get a hearing. There's concern all of this attention to the income tax plan is taking away from consideration of other bills waiting for votes.
"It serves no point to me in the later part of the session when we're trying to figure out how to manage the budget, to introduce a bombshell like this," Zarelli said.
Friday night is the deadline for non-budget bills, and there's just 6 days left to get the other measures through including:
* The constitutional amendment to keep more suspects in jail without bail
* A bill to improve survivor benefits for families of police officers and firefighters.
* A bill to provide catastrophic injury coverage for police and firefighters.
* A bill banning texting while driving, and a ban on teens phoning while driving
* Plus the bill to break up the huge Dept of Social and Health Service.
Key Democratic leaders say it's time to shake things up, but Republicans say they're astounded the idea is even being considered.
And with only a week to go before the end of the regular session, the success of the idea is in doubt.
"The goal of this is that we would shift part of the tax burden on the middle class to be people who can afford to pay more," said Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown (D-Spokane).
Brown is leading the campaign for an income tax that would only tap those who make more than $200,000 a year, or married couples who make more than $400,000.
"At its very conception, it's a high-income income tax," Brown said.
The income tax bill was brought forth just a week before the end of the session, angering Republicans who say the idea is unconstitutional and is just pitting the rich against the poor.
"That's what they're trying to create is a class war kind of thing," said Sen. Joe Zarelli (R-Ridgefield). "But I think the founders of this state, when they put the constitution together, clarified this issue of property and taxation and that it has to be uniform."
But Democratic leaders say it's time to talk about shaking things up.
"We were at the point, why shy away from an honest discussion like this? Shudder when somebody says the two words 'income tax'?" said Budget Committee Chair Sen. Margarita Prentice (D-Renton). "Lay it out for the public to really have an honest talk about."
But even if the measure got through the Senate, key House leaders tell me they're cool to the idea and it's not likely to get a hearing. There's concern all of this attention to the income tax plan is taking away from consideration of other bills waiting for votes.
"It serves no point to me in the later part of the session when we're trying to figure out how to manage the budget, to introduce a bombshell like this," Zarelli said.
Friday night is the deadline for non-budget bills, and there's just 6 days left to get the other measures through including:
* The constitutional amendment to keep more suspects in jail without bail
* A bill to improve survivor benefits for families of police officers and firefighters.
* A bill to provide catastrophic injury coverage for police and firefighters.
* A bill banning texting while driving, and a ban on teens phoning while driving
* Plus the bill to break up the huge Dept of Social and Health Service.