Washington budget deficit may call for tax boosts
$2.4 billion state shortfall predicted
$2.4 billion state shortfall predicted
Mr. Rossi... It believe that you are up next. wink:OLYMPIA -- Washington's powerful House speaker has acknowledged the possibility of tax increases to balance next year's state budget, but adds that Democrats want to avoid such a step if possible.
Thursday's comments from Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, are the strongest signal yet that Democratic leaders think higher taxes could be needed to balance the 2009-11 budget, which will be written by next year's Legislature.
Chopp's statements also seemed to confirm months of Republican warnings about the need for tax increases or spending cuts to deal with a looming state deficit, recently pegged by nonpartisan Senate staff at nearly $2.4 billion in the next biennium.
Republicans have consistently sent that warning, saying the past four years' 33 percent increase in state spending can't be sustained in a slackening economy.
From: The Seattle P-I