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Walsh disagrees
that tax increase is the only way
to pay for critical services
Two
days after 5,000 citizens from around the state rallied against tax
increases and growing government spending, the House Health and Human
Services Committee heard a bill that would send a $1 billion tax measure
to the voters. Today the committee passed the bill 8-7.
House Bill 2377 would ask voters for a sales tax increase by 0.3
percent from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2012.
Rep. Maureen Walsh, a member of the committee
voting against the proposal, said
she was frustrated that during a recession the only option before the
Legislature is more tax and fee increases.
"The citizens who came here to speak against tax
increases did not mince their words, and they knew exactly what they
were saying," said Walsh, R-Walla Walla. "Everyone's struggling right
now, and that includes taxpayers. Middle-income families will pay the
highest price. Families are being forced to live within their means, and
so should government.
"The gorilla in the room is, 'What happens if the voters
turn down a tax increase?'" Walsh asked in committee. "The fact that
we're relying on a bailout from the taxpayers is irresponsible
budgeting. We can take care of these folks who need it the most. It's
called prioritizing.
"This tax increase will only help us temporarily, but we
have a budget structure right now that spends beyond the state's means,"
Walsh said. "I'm afraid in two years we'll be right back where we are
today."
The prime sponsor of the bill noted at the end of the
hearing that if the voters do not pass the tax increase, 'people will
die.'
"If we really think that people will die without this tax
increase, then the Legislature has neglected its duty to protect the
most vulnerable in our state," Walsh said. "No one agrees more that we
have a moral obligation to take care of people who can't take care of
themselves. But if we punt this to the voters, and they say 'no,' we're
going to end up back here in a worse situation next year. We really
ought to be looking for a better way to carve some money out of this
budget to meet those needs."
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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