Lawmakers should take a closer look at tax exemptions and preferences before cutting billions out of critical public programs and services, urges Remy Trupin, Executive Director of the Washington Budget and Policy Center, in a recent column in last week’s Seattle Times.

Trupin writes:

There’s a lot of talk of reform as we enter a critical legislative session for the state. But for all the talk of the need for change, there’s been scant talk of reforming one set of state policies that costs the state more than $6.5 billion a year. The state blindly keeps hundreds of special tax breaks on the books each year, for everything from face-lifts to Wall Street banks.

Not all tax subsidies are bad, especially if they accomplish something. But some tax breaks have been on the books since the 1930s, and we’ve never looked to see if they still make sense.

Read the full article: State lawmakers should review whether tax breaks are still worthy »