Sims risks all to embrace income tax

[Freddie Stubbs]

2004-07-11
by David Ammons
Associated Press

OLYMPIA-- It's considered one of the few certainties in Washington politics: People hate the idea of a state income tax and it's supposed to be the kiss of death for a politician who even mentions it out loud.

But one candidate for governor, Democrat Ron Sims, is not only mentioning it, but has made it the noisy centerpiece of a bold left-of-center campaign.

Is there a realistic chance of an income tax in your future? Not very likely.

Will Sims' risky, scrappy strategy work on a political level? That's a different question.

more: http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/168212

[montanacowboy]

1. Sims is DOA also

Washington already has some of the highest gas tax, the highest sales tax and the highest property taxes, and there are already measures on the ballot to raise the sales tax again.

You also have to pay an excise tax when you sale your home.

I say no, hell no to Ron Sims.

[mydawgmax]

2. Those taxes are high becuase there is no income tax

Read his whole proposal. It lowers other taxes and moves washington to a more progressive tax structure.

[geniph]

3. It's a knee-jerk reflexive response to reject a state income tax

and not really a very sensible reaction, but it is quite common. If Sims (whom I support) intends to get past the primary, he will have to communicate the whole tax proposal clearly to the state's voters. Saying the words 'income tax' has always been the political kiss of death in Washington state. What's the result? We have the single most regressive tax structure in the entire U.S. The sales, excise, property, B&O, and other taxes hit those who can least afford them hardest.

Right now, the state Constitution prohibits an income tax, but does permit the B&O tax (the worst tax in the world as far as preventing small businesses from thriving), the sales tax, multiple excise taxes, etc. So we pay a hodgepodge of taxes without a clear understanding of where the revenues for each go, and without really grasping how much we spend overall on taxes, or what rate anyone is paying. In order to institute a state income tax, the Constitution has to be amended. The only sensible, fair (and politically viable) way to get such an amendment through is to, at the same time, amend the Constitution to prohibit sales tax, B&O tax, etc. That would prohibit the "portmanteau syndrome" we have now, of having new taxes imposed on top of the existing ones.

A single state income tax would be a much more predictable way of generating revenue for the state, would be far more progressive in nature, would be much more equitable, and would be much more accountable in terms of what rates people were paying and where the revenues were used. State income taxes are also deductible on your Federal tax return.

I'm very much in favor of a state income tax, providing the state Constitution is amended thus to prohibit sales and B&O taxes, and property and excise tax rates were lowered at the same time. Minus those safeguards, of course, pretty much everyone is opposed to one.

[flamingyouth]

4. Income tax is the kiss of death here

I'm actually in support of it, but voters here will never go for it. I swear, people will end up paving their own roads in Wash. before they vote for a state income tax.:eyes:

[LeFleur]

5. State Income Tax

I agree that the only way the State Income Tax has a chance is if the amendment to the constitution forbids most other taxes.

The reason people have voted against the income tax is because they know that other taxes would eventually be levied at the same level we have now or more, local bond issues would still be on ballots, and in addition we would be paying an income tax.

Without some major readjustments, I say NO THANKS.

[geniph]

6. Take a look at Sims' actual proposal before you reject it

It does incorporate sunset clauses and elimination of sales and B&O taxes, and major cuts in property taxes.

Don't reject tax sanity out of hand without reading what's actually being proposed.