More Reaction to the Oregon Tax Vote

After noting the enthusiasm the governor and Democratic leaders displayed in the wake of Oregonians' vote Tuesday ro raise other people's taxes, this morning's Seattle Times gets right to the heart of the matter.

Increasing taxes on businesses in a state with nearly 11 percent unemployment does not make a lot of sense. Higher taxes will not produce more jobs and may limit the ability to add people to payrolls.

Even the most avid referendum supporter will admit the limitation of the process is it asks a simple up-or-down question. In the case of the two measures, the questions could be boiled down to: "Would you like to raise taxes on someone other than yourself?"

No wonder Oregon voters said yes ...

The editorial counsels lawmakers:

This is no time for a tax party.

Yesterday, the Herald of Bellingham carried a story with this significant comment from House Speaker Frank Chopp:

But with the tax measures having passed, they're still uncertain those results will translate to Washington.

"It is not changing our direction," said Washington's House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle.

For more on the theme, watch this exchange between Senators Joe Zarelli and Rodney Tom on TVW (begins at about 14:32 minutes in).

Neither believes the Oregon vote says much about the willingness of Washington voters to endorse higher taxes.