A Political Fantasy

Seattle

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Story Published: Nov 25, 2006 at 10:04 PM PST

By Valerie Hurst

I have a political fantasy.

It's called tax reform.

I'm hoping now that the Democrats have close to a 2-to-1 majority in the state Senate, and with an almost a 2-1 majority in the house, my fantasy will at least get talked up in the Legislature come January.

Business and occupation tax? Outta here in place of a fair corporate income tax.

State sales tax? Dump the state's 6.5% portion, but leave the local retail tax rates in place.

Property taxes? Reduced by a percentage that would be based on the creation of a state income tax.

I know, everyone's buttocks just clenched.

But how about if we tie that income tax to the level of inflation and then if the Legislature wants to raise the rate beyond that, it has do it with a super-majority vote?

I think that would work to the average taxpayer's benefit, as most would be able to deduct the amount paid from their federal tax bill.

The B&O tax hurts business.
The sales tax unfairly targets the low income.

Property taxes stretch us all.

Balanced and reliable taxes work in everyone's best interest.

Maybe this year, political fantasy can take a step toward reality.

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