More Editorials Skeptical of New Taxes

Even as advocacy groups organize to push through tax hikes of up to $2 billion, editorial boards across the state remain unconvinced. Earlier we noted that the Seattle Time, the News Tribune, and the Columbian had written strong editorials arguing for fiscal restraint, not tax hikes.

Today, add the Spokesman-Review, Bellingham Herald, The Daily News, and the Yakima Herald-Republic to the roll call. They get it: Tax increases add to the burden on struggling families, threaten jobs, and squeeze already hard-pressed employers. While they acknowledge, as we all must, the state's severe budget problems, they expect lawmakers to handle the problem through spending reforms. I recommend a close reading of each editorial. Here's a sampling.

From the Spokesman Review:

She was not able to achieve savings in employee salaries and benefits. She said she asked and was turned down. That makes any pitch for tax increases untenable.

...The shielding of public employee pay and benefits, which has been aided and abetted by state leaders for decades, must end. The unions have more clout than the vulnerable people facing the loss of critical state aid, so legislators need to step up and make the case.

The Yakima Herald-Republic:

Not so fast, governor.

Any tax boost must be viewed as a last resort and should only be considered when all other avenues of savings have been thoroughly exhausted. From our viewpoint, that hasn’t happened.

What about opening up the state’s collective bargaining agreements and taking a look at suggesting unpaid furloughs and re-negotiating projected wage increases for state employees?

The Bellingham Herald:

This is not the time to be raising taxes. Any move to shore up state coffers at the expense of citizens and businesses in this state will backfire, causing less spending or more layoffs or a delay in increasing employment and economic activity. It's a bad idea.

The Daily News:

This is no time to raise taxes. The economy is in the tank, and only recently has to begun showing signs of recovery. Taking money out of Washingtonians' pockets could easily derail that recovery and further depress state revenue by discouraging consumer spending. Increasing the tax burden should be an absolute last resort. But right now, it seems the governor and many legislative Democrats are looking at it as a first resort in crafting this supplemental budget.

And the Seattle Times weighs in again with some reform suggestions.

Good points, all. Please share them with your legislators.