In April of this year, Democrat State Treasurer Jim McIntire released a plan to overhaul our state’s tax system. McIntire proposed imposing a 5 percent personal state income tax, while eliminating the state property tax and reducing business taxes—what he called a “grand bargain.”
McIntire’s plan required an amendment to the state Constitution that he wanted to place on the 2016 ballot. Like the tax-increase proposals of Jay Inslee and other Democrats during the 2016 legislative session, McIntire’s scheme did not get very far.
One would think that McIntire would have dropped his plan since decided to retire rather than face voters who might remember his desire to pick their pockets. Unfortunately, you would be wrong.
McIntire is, once again, following his governor’s lead and calling for a state income tax. McIntire said, “The question is not if we go to an income tax, but when and how.”
Apparently, McIntire is the self-appointed new champion of the state income tax.
McIntire argument for a state income tax lies with the claim that it is needed to sustain investments in education. Of course, that’s not true — at all.
The problem with McIntire’s claim is that our state’s tax revenue is going up without an income tax. It’s not that our state has a revenue problem. Our state – thanks to 32 years of control of the governor’s mansion – has a spending problem.
Unfortunately, that’s something which Democrats refuse to recognize.
The argument that a state income tax is needed to meet our state’s education funding requirement is false. Simply put, if Democrats truly prioritized education spending, they would not have to push for new taxes. Rather, they would fund education first through existing funds, and prioritize other spending within the remaining revenue available.
Instead, they continue to push for a state income tax that no one – except the Left’s special interest campaign donors – wants.
Kiss our collective a$$; how many times do we have to say NO?!!
As many as it takes I guess. Let’s hope they get a big loud one in November.
Are we moving towards the inevitable, where the equally out-of-control state supreme court mandates the tax? Which is where the problem began in the first place. Or should I say the collusion between governor, supreme court and WEA.