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Anderson supports
reinstatement of one percent limit,
rejects tax deferral
State
Rep. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City, today voted in favor of HB 2416 that reinstates
the one percent tax limit outlined in Initiative 747. Anderson also
voted against HB 2417, which allows homeowners to defer 50 percent of
their property tax payments until they sell their home.
“The legislature did
the right thing by respecting the will of the voters and reinstating the
one percent property tax limit outlined in I-747,” says Anderson. “At
the same time though, the Democrat majority rammed through HB 2417,
which is an especially damaging bill to low-income homeowners and
hinders good fiscal management for cities and counties.”
In 2001, voters
approved I-747 with 58 percent of the vote. Earlier this month, the
state Supreme Court voted 5-4 to overturn I-747. The
court ruled voters were “misled” and did not understand what they
were voting for. “This basis for the court’s decision is especially
disturbing since this is the same court that ruled that lying to voters
is constitutionally protected speech,” adds Anderson.
Also today, lawmakers
passed Senate Bill 6178. The bill allows property owners under the medium
household income ($57,000) to defer 50 percent of their property taxes
each year. In doing so, homeowners are subject to seven percent interest
and a lien is placed on the home. The deferred taxes must be paid when
the home is sold.
“I voted against 2417
because it creates a class of citizens that are, in effect, indentured
servants to the government for their housing,” said Anderson.
“Government should not be acting like a bank and taking liens on homes.
The sub-prime disaster should be a wake-up call for government. Instead,
we are passing bills that put property owners further in debt. The
legislature should be looking at ways to increase family incomes with
good jobs from a healthy economy.”
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For more information, contact:
Mike Deising, Public
Information Officer - (360) 786-7698
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