From the San Juan Islander:
SEATTLE – Just as most Washington families are finishing off the Thanksgiving leftovers, state lawmakers will be headed into a special session to trim as much as $2 billion from the state budget.
The special session starts a week from today.
Most of the budget gap, says Marilyn Watkins, policy director at the Economic Opportunity Institute, could be paid for by repealing tax breaks such as the one the state provides to banks for profits they make on home mortgages.
“There’s absolutely no evidence that, that tax break has done any good for consumers in Washington or homeowners in Washington state. The only benefit is to banks who have gotten their big bailout and are doing quite well now.”
More To Read
January 6, 2025
Initiative Measure 1 offers proven policies to fix Burien’s flawed minimum wage law
The city's current minimum wage ordinance gives with one hand while taking back with the other — but Initiative Measure 1 would fix that
November 1, 2024
Accessible, affordable health care must be protected
Washington’s elected leaders can further expand essential health care
September 24, 2024
Oregon and Washington: Different Tax Codes and Very Different Ballot Fights about Taxes this November
Structural differences in Oregon and Washington’s tax codes create the backdrop for very different conversations about taxes and fairness this fall