Updated Jan 21, 2009 - 10:13 am

Senator proposes state income tax

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Listen to Chris's report

The idea of a state income tax is back on the table again.

Senator Rosa Franklin (D) says it's time to revamp the entire tax system and talk about a more sustainable way of funding the state budget.

Franklin would like to put a bill before the voters in the next general election. "Whenever you mention taxes, nobody likes to pay taxes. My goal in putting it forward is to have a discussion," Franklin told KIRO Radio's Dori Monson.

Franklin says she'd like to see the revenue stream become more predictable. "Our system is very volatile. When we have good times, then we have money. When we don't have good times, then we do not."

Franklin's plan would leave the sales tax in place, though it would lower the rate, giving Washington a sales, a property, and an income tax.

The bill has yet to appear in its first committee hearing.

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• 78 cougar wrote...

  She's right!

  I think that the state's troubles all stem from the fact that I don't pay enough taxes.

  January 21, 2009 7:40 am

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• What?? wrote...

  She sounds like she should be in a nursing home!!!

  Maybe she should spend some time cutting spending instead of wasting our money having "discussions" which have been had time and time again. I don't understand why these politicians think they know that when we vote we don't know what we are doing. Will they every get it???? (Baseball stadium, viaduct and now this again). I think we should privatize a lot of government agencies (DSHS would be number 1 on my list).

  January 21, 2009 7:59 am

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• 78 - If you think you need to pay more, you can pay mine :)

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• taxpayer wrote...

  Suggestion: Try Fiscal Restraint for Once

  Stop the tax and spend politics ! Senator Franklin's suggestion is one-loaf short of Marie Antoinette's quote of "Let them eat cake" Washington families have to live within their means every day, and yes, sometimes actualy go without. If we didn't spend tax money foolishly and needlessly on poorly thought-out projects, or artsy craftsy junk to appease the wine and cheese cliques in Olympia, then we would likely have a surplus. Senator Franklin, please do us all a favor, and keep idiotic ideas such as this to yourself, and try not to mess anything else up before we can vote you out of office.

  January 21, 2009 8:04 am

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• Rick (4) wrote...

  No Way!

  These politicians have no idea of reality! They need to do their job and cut unnecessary waste first such as health care for illegal aliens, excessive administrative positions in government, unnecessary art costs added to all projects, etc. Hey Christine - what about your no new taxes promise?

  January 21, 2009 8:30 am

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• fed up with WA wrote...

  Hear we go again.

  Politicians just seem to lose touch with reality. A state income tax would not create a more predictable source of income. Have they no clue that when people are out of work they don't collect a pay check! Unless the state plans to collect income taxes of unemployment, then when unemployment goes up, tax revenue will go down. I want to see the State start running the government the way we have to run our households and businesses. The State needs to quit spending, start reducing the size of government and go through the budget line by line and do away with unnecessary programs. STATE INCOME TAX? Senator Franklin, needs a reality check!

  January 21, 2009 8:40 am

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• Bulldog wrote...

  Comrade Franklin

  "Our system is very volitale" That is what happens when the Commies in Olympia run wild and out of control. I have a Pit Bull and he would be volitale if I didn't keep him under control. I'm sorry that I compared my Bullie to you folks in the Politburo,he's doesn't deserve to be disgraced like that.

  January 21, 2009 8:41 am

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• Chuck Gould wrote...

  Not unless sales tax is eliminated

  Introducing a state income tax is a very bad idea. The greater the number of methods by which we can be taxed, the more easily taxes can be increased. Increases in individual taxes may be so small that there is little public opposition, but the collective result is a walloping tax increase. If we adopt an income tax, we should make the sales tax illegal in this state at the same time. The long term answer isn't collecting more taxes, it's spending less money. A better solution would be to exempt food, medicine, kid's clothing, gasoline, books, tuition, and the other basic neccessities of life (many already are exempt) from sales tax so that it doesn't unduly hurt the impoverished and then cover all state expenses with sales tax. It would probably need to be 20 to 25%, but it would at least remind us each and every time we bought anything just how expensive our state government has become and would inspire more people to demand efficencies. (Unfortunately, it would also drive all major purchases out of state or to the internet and destroy a lot of businesses- not exactly what we need at this point in time).

  January 21, 2009 9:03 am

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• DRIG59 wrote...

  Don’t be so reactive ...

  Let’s think about this. Does anyone really know how much tax they pay every year in sales tax? We notice it on big ticket items, but it’s much less noticeable when the state picks our pocket one or two dollars at a time. Every year, we have to wait to see if congress will allow us to write off a sales tax deduction on our federal tax return. Does anyone really think that the amount we write off on the federal return is comparable to what we actually pay? I really doubt the deduction works to our advantage. Sales tax is also a regressive tax. Lower income people pay a disproportionately higher percentage of their income on sales tax than higher income people. With a sales tax, you still pay taxes when you’re unemployed. Bottom line, the state still gets our money. I’d just rather know how badly I’m getting fleeced, be able to write off the full amount on my federal taxes, and have it more fairly applied.

  January 21, 2009 9:05 am

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• tbristor wrote...

  Here comes the Democrates

  Why does this suprise anyone, when ever the DEM's take control the first this they want to do is initiate a tax to support their habits of spending. I guess the Boston Tea Party was for nothing.

  January 21, 2009 9:12 am

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