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Feb. 16, 2007
Dear friends and
neighbors,
Most of us are
feeling the pinch of taxes. Except for
groceries, you pay taxes on nearly everything
you buy in our state. And if you own a home,
property or business, you are paying the highest
amount of taxes.
The Tax
Foundation, a group in Washington, D.C., reports
that our Washington is the fourth highest taxed
state in the nation. In fact, we are the highest
taxed state west of the Mississippi. Only Connecticut,
New York and New Jersey surpass us in the amount
taxpayers pay.
This week, I
co-sponsored a package of legislation intended
to provide meaningful and significant tax relief
for the taxpayers in the state of Washington. We
give special attention to homeowners who are
struggling with their property tax bills.
Also this week, I
co-sponsored legislation to protect our
initiative process. There are an inordinate
amount of bills in the Legislature this year
which attack our citizens' cherished right to
make and remake their laws through initiatives
and referenda. I want to make sure Washington's
electorate's right to legislate is protected.
You'll find more
information on these issues below in this e-newsletter update from
Olympia. I
welcome your questions, comments and ideas.
Please contact my office. You'll find my contact
information above.
Also, be sure to
check out my new web site for local news and
views, photos, and district information. You may
view it at:
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Armstrong.
It is an honor to
serve you!
Rep. Mike Armstrong
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Tax relief
for property owners, farmers, employers,
employees
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Since the
property tax meeting I held last fall in
Manson, I've been working on ways to
provide additional tax relief to our
folks at home and to citizens across the
state of Washington.
This week, I
co-sponsored comprehensive tax relief
legislation that will put a total of
$3.3 billion back into the hands of
taxpayers.
Property tax
relief - $870 million
House Bill 2272 would reinstate
property tax increase limits to 1
percent per year, the same limits
contained in Initiative 747 which was
struck down last year by King County
Superior Court Judge Mary Roberts. In
addition, the bill would limit future
increases in assessed property values,
preventing homeowners from "sticker
shock" when they get their tax
assessments.
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It would
also provide a
$400 rebate for every
Washington property owner who paid
property taxes on their primary
residence in 2006. And if you decide you
don't want the rebate, we've built in a
way to give it back to the state.
Taxpayers who want to return their
rebate could designate it to go to
education, health care, state parks,
transportation or the general fund.
Relief for farmers
- $40 million
Agriculture is the number one
employer in Washington. Yet, farmers are
struggling under heavy tax burdens.
House Bill 1587 would provide a
reduced B&O tax rate for custom farming
service.
House Bill 1757 would exempt farm
machinery and equipment from sales/use
taxes.
House Bill 2270 would eliminate tax,
interest and penalty provisions for land
valued under the open space program.
Relief for
employers and employees - $2.4 billion
In addition to the state
having a $1.9 billion budget surplus,
there's a $1.4 billion surplus in the
Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and a
$1 billion surplus in the Workers’
Compensation Contingency Reserve. Our
legislation proposes to return the UI
and Workers' Comp surpluses back to
employers and employees.
Money set aside for current spending and
a savings account for the future
Even after providing the rebates and tax
relief packages, our plan still has $600
million built in for immediate needs in
the 07-09 budget. Plus, it contains a
constitutionally-protected "rainy day"
fund of $400 million to protect our
state from future economic downturns.
A responsible tax relief plan
You work hard for your money. Government
takes a significant portion of your
income. Washington is the fourth highest
taxed state in the nation. And it
currently has budget surpluses exceeding
$4.3 billion. Isn't it time you
got some of your money back?
Read more about
our tax relief plan at:
http://www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/TaxRelief.htm |
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Protecting our rights of initiatives and
referenda
Since 1912
Washingtonians have had the cherished
right to make and remake their laws
through initiatives and referenda. This
process guarantees Washington’s
electorate the right to legislate. No
one, not the governor, the Legislature,
nor the Supreme Court should deny this
freedom from our citizens. It is a
fundamental process of a government of,
for and by the people. Yet this right
continues to be under attack.
This
week, I sponsored legislation to protect
our rights of initiative and referenda.
The measure seeks to extend privacy
protection to those engaged in the right
to peacefully petition their government.
It also seeks to ensure that all valid
voter signatures on initiative and
referendum petitions count and are not
rejected by the secretary of state. It
would change some of the required
language on petitions to add, "and I
have voluntarily signed this petition
without any compensation or promise of
compensation."
Click here for more information on House
Bill 2277. |
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State to
buy Coulee City rail line for wheat transport
I was proud to join
with Rep. David Buri, R-Colfax, and representatives
of Central Washington Grain Growers, Inc. last week to watch Gov. Christine
Gregoire sign a memorandum of understanding with Mark Blazer, Senior
V.P., Watco Companies Inc. The memorandum spells out details of a $7.9
million sale of several short-line railroads to the state of Washington,
including the CW Branch line between Coulee City and Cheney. The sale
will allow growers in Douglas County and wheat growing regions of
Eastern Washington to ship grain via rail. Scroll down to view the names
of those in the photo with me.
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From left: Seated are: Mark Blazer,
Watco Companies Inc. and Gov. Christine Gregoire. Standing are: Rep.
Mike Armstrong; Central Washington Grain Growers board member Tony
Viebrock of Waterville; Central Washington Grain Growers board member
Bob Bandy of Wilbur; Tom Dooley, Olympia; Central Washington Grain
Growers General Manager L. Kevin Whitehall, and Rep. David Buri. |
