Everett Chamber Leaders Warn of Consequences of Higher Taxes

In an unusually sharp op-ed in today's Herald of Everett, the leaders of the Everett Chamber of Commerce speak for many Main Street employers.

Grappling with the means to close the state budget deficit, the Legislature has proposed several ideas, including additional consumer and business taxes. These measures are troubling because they would raise the cost of living and doing business in our state, thwarting efforts to give Washingtonians what they need most — job creation and preservation, and a break from the burden of increased taxes.

They acknowledge the difficult situation legislators confront, and share concern for preserving and strengthening essential services. And, like many of us, they wonder when we'll see the overdue structural reforms.

Businesses are already fearfully anticipating another round of unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation increases next year and citizens will not be able to afford another sales tax increase...

After the budget and revenue packages are passed this year and the special session ends, we hope that efforts will be focused on finding long-term solutions to fix this crisis once and for all so that we are not facing the same issue next year.

The Chamber leaders mention the sales tax increase. It's not clear to me that we'll see one this year. But George Howland, Jr., reports in Olympia Newswire that the governor has said she will not veto a sales tax should the legislature send it to her. He also details the Democrats' negotiating process and players, with Sen. Rodney Tom apparently not sidelined despite his budget apostasy.