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Washington's 'Tax Freedom
Day' two weeks later than 2005
House Republican tax policy leader points to
Democrats' role
“Tax Freedom Day” has come
to Washington, but 14 days later than in 2005, and the state is now
fourth in the combined tax-burden rankings, up from eighth nationally
last year.
Rep. Ed Orcutt,
House Republican leader on tax policy legislation, has no doubt about
who is responsible for the disappointing changes: legislative Democrats
who raised taxes by nearly half a billion dollars last year.
“This year the people of our state had to work between January 1 and
today – 124 days, which is eight more than the national average – just
to pay their combined federal, state and local taxes. Last year Tax
Freedom Day for our state was April 20, or 110 days into the year. That
was three days beyond the national average. What changed between last
year and this year? Two days before Tax Freedom Day 2005, the Democrats
suspended Initiative 601 protection against tax increases, and two days
after it they voted for a monstrous tax increase to cover the
overspending in their budget.
“Our state has gone the
wrong direction on taxes under Democrat rule. We were eighth last year
in the tax-burden rankings, now we’re fourth. With Oregon and Idaho
ranking 28th and 42nd respectively – even California is ninth – the
contrast is even more apparent,” said Orcutt, R-Kalama.
The Tax Foundation, a national organization, annually calculates Tax
Freedom Day for each state and as a national average.
The foundation reports almost 34 percent of a Washingtonian’s income
will go toward taxes this year, noted Orcutt, who as top Republican on
the House Finance Committee led an unsuccessful effort this year to
repeal the state death tax Democrats enacted in 2005.
“It’s encouraging that two of the Democrats’ other tax increases have
been invalidated by a judge, at least temporarily. But it’s discouraging
that more Democrat overspending this year turned a $1.6 billion surplus
into a projected $718 million deficit for the new Legislature to face in
January. If the Democrats retain control of the legislative process next
year, and knowing how willing they are to raise taxes, I’m very
concerned that Tax Freedom Day 2007 could be delayed even longer.”
# # #
For more information, contact:
Brendon Wold, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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