They are split, according to a new survey by veteran pollster Stuart Elway, but they narrowly disagree with Inslee.

The Washington Realtors, which opposes extending the 2010 “temporary” increase in business-and-occupation tax rates, commissioned the poll question that was asked Jan. 24-31. Its finding: 49 percent said it would be a tax increase to extend the higher rates. Another 42 percent said it would not, while 9 percent had no opinion.

Elway said the group viewing it as a tax increase make up a statistically-significant plurality of voters, but not a majority.

“We’re as split on these questions as we always seem to …

Read more »

Backers of a charter school initiative and Tim Eyman’s latest version of a two-thirds vote requirement for tax hikes both met deadlines for submitting signatures to qualify for the Nov. 6 ballot. Checking of a sample of signatures is needed, but signs point to both I-1240’s charter schools plan and Eyman’s I-1185 both qualifying.

Assuming that happens, the fall ballot will have six measures ranging from same-sex marriage to debt control and marijuana decriminalization.

The Office of the Secretary of State is reporting both I-1240 and I-1185 are in good shape to qualify because they both exceeded the 241,153 minimum – with I-1240 saying it has brought in about 350,000 and Eyman reporting he has 318,000.

Read more »

Fresh off the victory of tax-limiting Initiative 1053 in November’s election and a favorable legal ruling that it will apply to ferry fares and bridge tolls, professional initiative monger Tim Eyman called a press conference Wednesday to celebrate his gains in 2010 and look forward to 2011. He also celebrated his 45th birthday by cutting a cake decorated with a bar chart of ever-growing state budgets. (State employees – if you forgot like we did there’s still time to drop by the Walgreen’s to pick up something nice.)

Dueling commentary on Eyman:

Paul Jacob/TownHall.com: America’s No. …

Read more »

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Monday cleared the way for a final vote on a $858 billion tax package that will allow Washington residents to deduct the sales tax they paid on their 2010 and 2011 federal returns.

Both Washington state senators, Democrats Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, supported the controversial package, while some of their colleagues on Capitol Hill continued to attack it as providing billions of dollars in unnecessary tax relief for the nation’s wealthiest.

The compromise package of tax cuts, negotiated by the Obama White House and Republican leaders with congressional Democrats mostly on the sidelines, would extend the Bush-era tax cuts for two years for all taxpayers regardless of income. Extending those tax cuts for all was a top Republican priority.

Read more »

Someone at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue thought this was a clever way to convince errant taxpayers to cough up what they owe the state.

But in an era when anti-government activists are getting a lot of traction out of sentiments that government is too big and too powerful it might not be a good idea to confirm that.

The ad simulates a computer using sophisticated satellite systems to find a taxpayer named Tom.

The slogan? “We know who you are.” (Thanks to Jason Mercier for sending this along).

To download the ad, go here.

Member of tea parties, including a Pierce County contingent, and other anti-tax groups plan to descend on Olympia and Seattle Thursday for rallies. Of course, April 15 marks the day federal income taxes are due, but also comes on the heels of the state Legislature passing several tax increases.

A state Capitol rally starts at noon, while one in Westlake Park starts at 5:30 p.m. Read the press release below for more details.

April 13, 2010

Tea Party groups to protest in Seattle and Olympia on Tax Day

Olympia – Washington’s tea party groups and the Evergreen Freedom Foundation will come together to bring citizens “Tea for Two,” an all-day, two-part rally that will take place on both the State Capitol Campus and in downtown Seattle. The events are scheduled for Thursday, April 15, from noon to 3 p.m. on the North Capitol Steps in Olympia and then at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Seattle’s Westlake Park.

The event is hosted by Pierce County Tea Party, Seattle Sons and Daughters of Liberty, the Freedom Foundation, Tea Party Patriots, and South Sound Tea Party.

Read more »

Here is how legislators from South Sound districts voted on the final consideration of budget and tax bills in the final days of the 2010 special session.

Senate Bill 6444: Adopting the 2010 Supplemental Operating Budget, modifying the 2009-11 biennial appropriations for the various agencies and programs of the state.

Passed in the House by a 54 to 43 vote on Monday.
VOTING YES
Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia
Rep. Dawn Morrell, D-Puyallup
Rep. Jeannie Darneille, D-Tacoma
Rep. Dennis Flannigan, D-Tacoma
Rep. Tami Green, D-Lakewood
Rep. Steve Conway, D-Tacoma
Rep. Steve Kirby, D-Tacoma
Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Normandy Park
Rep. Mark Miloscia, D-Federal Way
Rep. Dave Upthegrove, D-Des Moines
Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington

VOTING NO
Rep. Troy Kelley, D-Tacoma
Rep. Brendan Williams, D-Olympia
Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor
Rep. Christopher Hurst, D-Enumclaw
Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy
Rep. Jim McCune, R-Graham
Rep. Bruce Dammeier, R-Puyallup
Rep. Jan Angel, R – Port Orchard
Rep. Skip Priest, R-Federal Way
Rep. Dan Roach, R-Bonney Lake
Rep. Geoff Simpson, D-Covington

Passed by the Senate Monday on a 25 to 21 vote.

VOTING YES
Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Thurston County
Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup
Sen. Debbie Regala, D-Tacoma
Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way
Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent
Sen. Claudia Kauffman, D-Kent
Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma

VOTING NO
Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville
Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor
Sen. Michael Carrell, R-Lakewood
Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn

Read more »

We’ll know more by noon, but polling done for the House Democratic Campaign Committee showed only 28 percent voter support for using a sales-tax to bridge a piece of the state’s $2.8 billion budget shortfall.

Democratic Rep. Ross Hunter of Medina is laying out his tax plans during the lunch hour. He’ll add to the roughly $385 million that his tax-loopholes bill, House Bill 3176, would raise. But he was mum about details yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Rep. Sam Hunt, the Olympia Democrat who chairs the HDCC, said yesterday the poll results are a reason he is now leaning against the …

Read more »