OLYMPIA - Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, expressed outrage and disappointment Friday that fellow Democrats would propose an income tax for Washington State’s citizens.
"We have seriously holed our ship below the waterline," Sheldon said. "Why aren’t we cutting spending and reforming state government instead of scaring the pants off our citizens with an unconstitutional income tax proposal?"
Sheldon’s proposal to privatize liquor sales was killed again for the 13th consecutive year. Bills to privatize operation of the state printer have also been ignored.
“Citizens need jobs, not more taxes,” Sheldon said. “This income tax proposal violates the uniformity clause of the state constitution and would not even be allowed on the ballot in my opinion.
“It throws a wet blanket on potential new investment in our economy and delays our recovery even longer.
“After 20 years in Olympia, my experience tells me that we are now at serious risk of not adjourning on time,” he continued. “The citizens will be very critical of the legislature if we cannot finish our business in a timely and business-like manner.”