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Orcutt legislation would do
away with death tax
Rep. Ed Orcutt
today introduced legislation that would repeal the death tax adopted in
2005, keeping another of the commitments House Republicans made to
Washington citizens for the 2006 legislative session.
“I said last year our state treasury didn’t need the revenue the death
tax would provide, and the revenue forecasts are proof. Let’s bury the
death tax before it kills any of our small employers and family-owned
businesses,” said Orcutt, R-Kalama, who is Republican leader on the
House Finance Committee. House Bill 2841 would essentially roll the
clock back, eliminating the additional tax collection by the state
adopted in 2005.
“I expect the opponents of my bill will use last year’s argument – that
the death tax is needed to fund the provisions of Initiative 728. That’s
nonsense. The state is forecasting more than enough revenue from other
sources to pay the I-728 commitments,” said Orcutt, who is familiar with
state revenue forecasts as a member of the state Economic and Revenue
Forecast Council. “My bill would make the majority party take another
look at its budget priorities. But the revenue is there.”
Orcutt also is prime
sponsor of House Bill 2672, which would give employers until the 25th of
each month to pay their business taxes.
“A few years ago the deadline was changed to the 20th, so the state
could deposit the money sooner and collect extra interest. But just as
there’s enough revenue to allow a repeal of the death tax, there’s
enough to return the tax payment deadline back to the 25th,” Orcutt
said. “Last month I called for the governor to support that move, and
she has since indicated her support, so I expect HB 2672 to move
smoothly through the process.
“I believe in getting government out of the way of job growth, and
putting money back into the hands of the taxpayers. That’s how we get
people back to work and expand the economy of Southwest Washington,”
Orcutt said.
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For more information, contact:
Brendon Wold, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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