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Friend,
this is your weekly update on the latest news from Washington state. Make sure to forward this to someone you think should be informed!
** ACCOUNTABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, OPPORTUNITY
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Accountability:
** WA Department of Ecology continues to thwart state law, lawsuit seeks immediate release of updated CO2 data
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On Wednesday, January 14th, Washington Policy Cente ([link removed]) r ([link removed]) , in conjunction with the Citizen Action Defense Fund ([link removed]) , filed a motion for summary judgment ([link removed]) in our lawsuit to force the Department of Ecology to produce the climate data the law requires. Citizens should not have to sue the state to follow a law a state agency admits they aren't following. READ MORE ([link removed])
** Penalizing property owners for Seattle’s poor financial decisions
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Newly elected Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson plan ([link removed]) s to slap a vacancy tax on building owners who can't fill their spaces.Seattle's downtown a ghost town of empty offices, with vacancies soaring ([link removed]) to 35 percent. Her solution will make the problem worse.True solutions start with accountability. For example.... READ MORE ([link removed])
** The "Fair Share" Tax Myth That Won't Die
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The claim that low-income taxpayers are "carrying" the state is demonstrably false. According to the Department of Revenue (DOR), taxpayers earning over $243,000 pay approximately $41,020 in state and local taxes per biennium. Those in the lowest bracket ($16,000-$32,000) pay an average of $7,206. READ MORE ([link removed])
Affordability:
** Gov's Income Tax Would Make Seattle #1 for Highest Taxes
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The 9.9% state income tax proposal would stack on top of existing Seattle payroll taxes (the JumpStart tax and the Social Housing tax) plus the state's WA Cares tax. That would lead to a total combined tax rate of 18.037%. That's 22% higher than the next closest jurisdiction, New York City. READ MORE ([link removed])
** Legislators propose creating another tax
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The bill seeks to authorize Washington counties to impose a local Business and Occupation (B&O) tax on gross receipts, gross income, or the value of products and includes a ridiculously low mandatory minimum small business exemption threshold of $20,000 in annual gross income. READ MORE ([link removed])
Opportunity:
** Cut red tape for dietitians, fix licensing for everyone
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A House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee hearing on Tuesday ([link removed]) was refreshing. It considered just one proposal that offered a bit of calm and hope before the storm, HB 2088 ([link removed]) a bill that would bring the state into the Dietitian Licensure Compact ([link removed]) .
Also Read:
* House Bill 2489 undermines local control and would destroy a city’s ability to help the homeless ([link removed])
* SB 5292 proposes a reasonable change to PFML — if it doesn’t get hijacked ([link removed])
* Farmworker union bill punishes employers, employees without cause ([link removed])
* House Bill 2481 will stifle innovation and hurt businesses ([link removed])
MORE HEADLINES ([link removed])
** ACTION ALERT
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** Citizens urged to speak out on new tax proposal
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House Bill 2100 (HB 2100 ([link removed]) ) seeks to impose a 5% excise tax on medium and large companies for the portion of employee payroll expenses exceeding $125,000 annually per worker (tied to the federal additional Medicare tax threshold). HB 2100 has been scheduled for a hearing on January 22 1:30pm and concerned citizens can express their thoughts here ([link removed]) . READ MORE ([link removed])
** Tell your legislators and the governor, NO new taxes!
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Use WPC's new "take action" tool to email a "No New Taxes" message to the governor, your state senator and your state representatives. Fill out the form, edit the draft email to reflect your voice and point of view, then click send. It's easy. With Governor Ferguson announcing his support for an income tax, your voice is more important than ever before. Visit the Take Action page today ([link removed]) and urge your friends to do the same!
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** HAVE YOU SHARED THIS INFORMATION YET?
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How many people you know would guess that Washington ranks 45th -- near the bottom -- for business taxes? Or that our state operating budget increased almost 49 percent (AFTER adjusting for inflation and population control) since the 2012-2015 budget? The legislative session is coming up quickly. To make informed decisions about how to best govern our state, we must acknowledge where we are. WPC's Report Card for Washington's Future gives you the data you need to cut through rhetoric and see where our state needs course correction.
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