Stumbling Toward Unpopular Tax Increases

Yesterday the House Finance Committee passed the tax legislation introduced Monday. HB 3191 contains a host of tax hikes that appear to be as unpopular with lawmakers as with the public. The difference is that the public won't get a chance to vote on it.

In the Seattle Times, Jim Brunner writes that nearly every member of the committee objected to one or more aspects of the bill.

It was no surprise that Republicans opposed the tax plan. But Democrats aggressively sniped at it too.

...Nevertheless, Democrats said they felt compelled to pass the bill on to the House floor, where it can be tweaked as it moves forward.

Some argued the bill didn't go far enough. Others said it went too far and gave too much power to the revenue department. 

The News Tribune and KOMO news have good reports on the hearing, which can be viewed on TVW.