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Tag: income tax

WA election: The count continues

WA election: The count continues

“Election Day” is history now, but in Washington, it’s just the beginning.  The count goes on … and on. The Election Night report from our 39 counties showed us a great snapshot — about 60 percent of the 2.4 million expected ballots were tallied.  The rest, either still in the mail or in the courthouses  awaiting the time-consuming process of scrutinizing each ballot, will be added over the coming days.  Most counties will be adding freshly processed ballots daily, and…

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Big bucks: New report shows $20m for initiatives

Big bucks: New report shows $20m for initiatives

The Washington Public Disclosure Commission reports that state initiative efforts have drawn over $20 million in contributions.  This includes the $10 million raised by Stop the Food & Beverage Tax Hikes, promoters of Initiative 1107, which would roll back recently adopted taxes on pop, bottled water, and candy.  Most of the money and in-kind contributions came from the American Beverage Association. The commission said Washington Citizens for Liquor Reform, backers of I-1105, brought in $2 million from two sources.  This…

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Here’s your quick guide to WA ballot measures

Here’s your quick guide to WA ballot measures

Here’s a quick once-over from our state Elections Division (recap only, not the fancy wording from the Attorney General wordsmiths): Office of the Secretary of State 2010 Ballot Measures Overview Initiatives on the Ballot Initiative Measure 1098 – State Income Tax on High Income Earners This measure would tax “adjusted gross income” above $200,000 (individuals) and $400,000 (joint-filers), reduce state property tax levies, reduce certain business and occupation taxes, and direct any increased revenues to education and health. Initiative Measure…

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`Direct democracy’ — A six-pack for 2010

`Direct democracy’ — A six-pack for 2010

It’s a bumper crop of initiatives apparently headed to the fall ballot.  On Friday, the deadline day for submitting petitions, three more campaigns brought in hundreds of thousands of signatures. This brought to six the number of initiatives to the people for the year, tying the modern record set in 2000. The all-time record was the seven on the 1914 ballot, almost a century ago, the first year we could use the initiative and referendum process. Sponsors of two anti-tax…

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Initiative goldrush: a record 77 filed (so far)

Initiative goldrush: a record 77 filed (so far)

Washington’s initiative process is going gangbusters this year.  We’ve easily broken the previous record for most initiatives filed in a single year, with 77 filed already, eclipsing the 60 filed in 2003 and the 57 in 2008. We could easily meet or beat the record for most initiatives making the ballot, too, since  well-heeled individuals and groups are sponsoring some of these measures and presumably can afford to hire paid signature-gatherers in heavy enough numbers to make the ballot.  It…

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Income tax on high-wage earners?

Income tax on high-wage earners?

In the seven decades since Washington’s first (and only) voter-approved state income tax was thrown out by the state Supreme Court, voters have been asked regularly to revisit the issue.  It could be on the 2010 statewide ballot, if Bill Gates Sr. and other sponsors of Initiative 1077 collect enough signatures in the next two months. It’s the latest controversial issue to surface as possible fodder for the November 2 ballot. The potential plans are tax cuts, Tim Eyman’s anti-tax…

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Oregon update: Voters OK income tax hikes

Oregon update: Voters OK income tax hikes

While Washington lawmakers and Governor Gregoire contemplate the prospect of tax hikes to help close a $2.6 billion budget shortfall, Oregon voters have upheld the Oregon Legislature’s decision to boost corporate and personal income taxes to the tune of over $730 million. Oregon voters, balloting by mail, on Tuesday approved a pair of referenda, both by a margin of better than 53-47.  Measure 66 will raise the margin income tax rate on personal income above $125k for individuals and $250k…

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Oregonians to decide fate of income tax hikes

Oregonians to decide fate of income tax hikes

While Washington lawmakers cogitate over how to close a $2.6 billion budget gap, our neighbors to the south are deciding whether to go along with the Oregon Legislature’s decision last year to boost income taxes to fill a $733 million hole. Oregonians, voting by mail over the last couple of weeks, get final say on two referenda.  One raises the personal income tax rate for the richest taxpayers and the other would boost the state’s minimum corporate inc0me tax, now…

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Income tax votes, through the years …

Income tax votes, through the years …

Tax Day post #2:  As Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and others talk up the idea of a public vote on a flat-rate income tax on high-wage earners (say, $250k or $500k a year, or double that for joint filers), the state Elections Division has posted a recap of the five times that Washington voters have faced income tax ballot measures. The story starts back in 1932, during the Great Depression, with a statewide vote that overwhelmingly … well click here to find out more.