Review tax exemptions for economic impact before cutting billions from budget

remy-trupinLawmakers 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 »

  • Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More To Read

March 24, 2023

Women’s Labor is Women’s History 

To understand women's history, we must learn the role of women - and especially women of color - in the labor movement 

March 24, 2023

Victory! Washington Takes a Critical Step Towards Balancing our Tax Code

Washington state supreme court upholds the capital gains tax

February 15, 2023

Podcast: Getting to Lower Health Care Costs in Washington

EOI's Sam Hatzenbeler joins Washington's Indivisible Podcast to discuss our state's health care costs crisis and what the legislature can do to solve it