Senator Rosa Franklin introduced an income tax today, as reported by the KIRO website:
The idea of a state income tax is back on the table again.The odds are against it becoming law this year, but it does point to the problem at the center of this year's session: either serious cuts or tax increases are needed ... and the Legislature is prohibited from raising taxes without either a two-thirds vote or a vote of the people.
Senator Rosa Franklin (D) says it's time to revamp the entire tax system and talk about a more sustainable way of funding the state budget.
Franklin would like to put a bill before the voters in the next general election. "Whenever you mention taxes, nobody likes to pay taxes. My goal in putting it forward is to have a discussion," Franklin told KIRO Radio's Dori Monson.
Yet, there's little serious action to resolve the problem pending word from the President one wag referred to as "Obama Claus" about federal aid to Washington state. Will it be a billion? Two billion? Road funds? Medicare funds?
Budget writers are also waiting anxiously for Washington's own updated budget forecast later in the session.
In the meantime, Democrats pine for an income tax, promising it would bring stability and fairness -- traits they have failed to notice are absent from the federal tax system.